“The memory of that night will stay with me forever. I had no idea then that it was Princess Diana. It was only when she had been put into the ambulance that one of the paramedics told me it was her.”
Princess Diana died on August 31, 1997(Image: Press Association)
Princess Diana tragically died 28 years ago today, sending shockwaves across the globe.
The beloved royal was only 36 when she lost her life in a devastating car accident in Paris on August 31, 1997, which also claimed the lives of her partner Dodi Fayed and their driver. The vehicle had smashed into the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in the French capital, with rescue teams rushing to the scene following the horrific collision.
Among those who responded was firefighter Xavier Gourmelon, who had no clue about Diana’s identity when he first spotted her in the wrecked car. He didn’t think the “blonde woman” in the back seat was critically hurt since her eyes were open, she was alert and speaking.
The beloved princess passed away in a tragic car crash in Paris(Image: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
Mr Gourmelon previously revealed to The Sun, “I massaged her heart and a few seconds later she started breathing again. It was a relief of course because, as a first responder, you want to save lives – and that’s what I thought I had done.
“To be honest I thought she would live. As far as I knew when she was in the ambulance she was alive and I expected her to live. But I found out later she had died in hospital. It was very upsetting. I know now that there were serious internal injuries, but the whole episode is still very much in my mind.
“The memory of that night will stay with me forever. I had no idea then that it was Princess Diana. It was only when she had been put into the ambulance that one of the paramedics told me it was her.”
Despite the best efforts of medical professionals, Diana was pronounced dead at 4am local time, 3am in the UK, at Pitie-Salpetriere hospital in Paris. Thousands flocked to Kensington Palace, Diana’s residence, to pay their respects, mourning a woman many had never met but felt a deep connection with. This outpouring of grief solidified her legacy and highlighted her unique ability to connect with people, something the royal family had often struggled with.
Historian Ed Owens remarked, “I think we need to remind ourselves that she was probably the best-known woman in the English-speaking world, aside from perhaps Queen Elizabeth II herself. And, given this massive celebrity persona that she had developed, to have that extinguished overnight, for her to die in such tragic circumstances, at such a young age, I think really came as a massive shock to many people.”
