Princess Diana’s Death
Princess Diana’s death came as a stunning shock to many as it was evident from the crowd of mourners as well as the people sending their condolences from over the world to share this grief and sorrow.
Princess Diana met her end in a road accident when she died moments after she was rescued, along with her companion Dodi Fayed, son of Harrods owner, Mohammed Al Fayed. The fatal car crash took place in the Pont de l'Alma road tunnel in Paris, France. Accompanyign them was also their driver Henri Paul and Fayed's bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones who miraculously survived the accident. This accident took place on 31st August 1997, when Diana, Princess of Wales was on her visit to Paris with Dodi Al Fayad, with whom she was claimed to be having an affair after her divorce from Prince Charles.
Princess Diana’s Death – The Collision
The cause of Diana’s accident was said to be speeding that was blamed on their driver Henri Paul who was allegedly drunk at the time. The Mercedes Benz that Diana and Dodi were going in was being chased by the paparazzi and that was the main reason behind speeding. As the princess’ car was being apparently pursued at high speed by photographers on motorbikes, the car crashed into the thirteenth pillar of the tunnel that caused a head on collusion. This collision resulted into instant death of the occupants. It is said that none of the occupants were wearing their seat belts at the time of accident.
Princess Diana’s Death – Where it Started?
Details tell us that Diana and Dodi had reached the Ritz Hotel, Paris from the airport in the early evening of 30th August1997. On 31st August 1997, they left the Ritz Hotel around 12:20 am to return to their apartment in Arsène Houssaye. However, due to speeding and loss of control, around 12:35, the car swerved to the left of the two-lane carriageway and collided with the head on resulting in immediate death of both Dodi Fayed and Henri Paul. However, according to the eye witnesses, Princess Diana, the Princess of Wales, was conscious after the accident. As the casualties lay severely injured in the wrecked car, the photographers continued to take pictures and Diana was reported to repeatedly murmur “oh my God,” and “leave me alone”.
The first reports also described Diana as bleeding from the nose and ears while her head rested on the back of the front passenger's seat. While a reported tried to rescue her, it was not easy as her feet were stuck in the car.
In the meantime the police also arrived. Diana was taken to Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in an ambulance shortly after 2 am. Diana had several internal injuries; her heart was displaced from the left to the right side of the chest that led to a tear in the pulmonary vein and the pericardium. Surgery was performed, but despite all the treatments given to her, Diana could not survive.
Princess Diana’s Death – World Reaction
At 4 o’ clock on 31st August 1997, the doctors of Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital pronounced her death. The death of Lady Diana was announced to public at 5:30 am in a press conference that was held by a doctor, Jean-Pierre Chevènement, France's Interior Minister and Sir Michael Jay, Britain's ambassador to France.
The people of Britain as well as all over the world were shocked and grieved by this sudden and untimely death of Princess Diana. The royal family expressed their deepest shock and remorse at her death. The time of Princess Diana’s death was of one of the saddest and quietest in England while the country mourned its loss.
