On August 31, 1997, the world was rocked by tragedy: Princess Diana lost her life in a devastating car crash in Paris.
Nearly thirty years later, Xavier Gourmelon, the firefighter who was at the scene that night, has shared what he witnessed during the princess’s final moments. His account, though simple, carries a powerful emotional weight.
The Night Everything Changed
That fateful evening, Diana and her companion, Dodi Fayed, left the Ritz Hotel quietly in a Mercedes-Benz S280, hoping to slip past the paparazzi unnoticed. Also in the car were their chauffeur, Henri Paul, and bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones. Tragically, none of them were wearing seatbelts.
As the vehicle sped through the Pont de l’Alma tunnel, it collided with a pillar at high speed. The crash was catastrophic. Dodi Fayed and Henri Paul were killed instantly. Princess Diana, however, was still alive—though gravely injured—when emergency services arrived.
Her Final Words
Among the first responders was firefighter Xavier Gourmelon. At first, he had no idea the woman he was helping was the Princess of Wales. When he reached her, she briefly regained consciousness and softly said:
“Oh my God, what happened?”
Those words, filled with confusion and fear, would be her last. Moments later, she lost consciousness again.
Paramedics tried to stabilize her and began CPR when she went into cardiac arrest. They were able to revive her briefly before rushing her to Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital. Despite their efforts, Diana died from her injuries a few hours later.
A Night He’ll Never Forget
Gourmelon later shared that he truly believed she would survive. It wasn’t until she was being taken away in the ambulance that he realized the identity of the woman he had tried to save.
“It was only later that I knew it was her,” he recalled.
What Investigations Revealed
French authorities determined the crash was caused by reckless driving under the influence of alcohol by Henri Paul. A British inquest would later add that the aggressive pursuit by paparazzi also played a part in the deadly chain of events.
An Echo Through History
Though the years have passed, the shock of that night remains. Diana’s final words continue to resonate, a haunting reminder of a tragedy that deeply impacted millions around the world. Her life, legacy, and untimely death are forever etched into history.