HomeTragedy & HopeFirefighter at the scene of Princess Diana’s fatal crash shared her final words
Firefighter at the scene of Princess Diana’s fatal crash shared her final words
August 31, 2024
A firefighter who attended the scene of the fatal crash that resulted in the death of Princess Diana has shared the beloved Royal’s final words.Twenty-seven years ago today (August 31, 1997), the world mourned the loss of Princess Diana as it was revealed that she had died following a tragic car crash. Read More
In one of the most groundbreaking news stories in modern history, it was reported that Princess Diana had been killed in a crash in Paris while the car she was in was attempting to flee paparazzi on the evening of August 30.
Also in the Mercedes-Benz S 280 Saloon were Diana’s partner Dodi Fayed, bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones, and driver Henri Paul.
As well as Diana, Fayed and Paul also died as a result of the crash at the Pont de l’Alma bridge. Rees-Jones survived but sustained several serious injuries.
Following the crash, it was revealed that Paul – who was deputy head of security at the Ritz Paris – was intoxicated and had been driving nearly four times over the legal limit for alcohol.
Moments after the collision, emergency services were dispatched to the scene. Among them was firefighter Xavier Gourmelon.
Several years ago, Gourmelon spoke to the UK news show Good Morning Britain, as the show paid tribute to the late princess. During his appearance on the show, the firefighter revealed what are believed to be Princess Diana’s final words, per The Sun.
Attending to the Princess inside the vehicle, he recounted: “She looked at me and said, ‘Oh my God, what’s happened?’
The former firefighter added that the Royal appeared “agitated” before she would lose consciousness again. “I tried to calm her down and tell her we’d look after her, and she fell into a coma again,” he continued.
Gourmelon added that when he was called out to the scene, he was unaware of who was in the car – and didn’t even recognize that he was speaking to Princess Diana at the time.
When the crew was finally able to free Diana from the wreckage, Princess Diana went into cardiac arrest.
“At that moment, the doctor said she was in cardiac arrest,” Gourmelon said. “So, we gave her CPR and after 20 seconds, she regained consciousness, and we transferred her to the ambulance.”
Tragically, Gourmelon believed the Princess was going to make a full recovery, as he couldn’t identify any injuries on her body.
Sadly, at around 4:00 AM on August 31, 1997, doctors at the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital were unable to save the Princess from another cardiac arrest.
The mom-of-two was just 36 at the time.
Following the tragedy, the UK was left in mourning.
An investigation held by French officials said that driver Henri Paul was to blame. Meanwhile, a British inquest would decide that Princess Diana died by unlawful killing as a result of negligent driving by Paul and the paparazzi following them.
