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What was Diana last words?

Princess Diana’s tragic death in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997 shocked the world. The beloved “People’s Princess” was just 36 years old at the time of the fatal accident, which also killed her companion Dodi Fayed and the driver, Henri Paul. In the aftermath of the crash, investigators pieced together Diana’s final moments and words before the collision that ended her life far too soon.

Diana’s Final Day

On August 30, 1997, Diana arrived in Paris for a short weekend getaway with Dodi Fayed, her new romantic partner. The couple had spent the previous few weeks together on Dodi’s yacht cruising the Mediterranean and hoped to continue their privacy and escape any media attention during their brief Paris trip. After dining at the Ritz Hotel on the evening of August 30, they departed shortly after midnight by car to return to Dodi’s apartment. Their driver, Henri Paul, had been drinking earlier that evening and was speeding to evade paparazzi as he entered the Alma tunnel along the Seine River. Paul quickly lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a concrete pillar around 12:20 am on August 31, 1997.

The Tragic Crash

The devastating crash critically injured Diana and Dodi and killed Paul instantly. Bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones, the only one wearing a seatbelt, survived with serious injuries. Witnesses who rushed to the scene described a catastrophic scene with broken glass and pieces of wreckage scattered across the roadway. First responders found Diana conscious but struggling to breathe, with visible severe injuries to her chest and head. She went into cardiac arrest shortly after being pulled from the demolished car. Paramedics performed CPR and administered intravenous fluids and medications in an effort to save her life as she was transported to the hospital. Despite nearly two hours of intensive resuscitative efforts, Diana was declared dead at the hospital at 4 am local time.

Diana’s Final Words

In the chaos of the crash, only a few direct witnesses were present for Diana’s actual final words amid the tragedy. Testimony from interviews with firefighters, paramedics, and hospital staff pieced together Diana’s last phrases after the accident:

  • “My God, what’s happened?” – Diana was conscious immediately after the crash and recognized the grave nature of her injuries and the situation.
  • “Leave me alone” – Spoken to photographers and journalists already gathering at the scene of the accident before being transported to the hospital.
  • “Oh my God” – Uttered after going into cardiac arrest, as medical efforts to save her life began.

Trevor Rees-Jones, her bodyguard and the car’s sole survivor, told investigators he recalled hearing Diana cry out as the car crashed but could not provide exact words, only describing it as a horrified scream. Others who rendered aid at the crash site did not recall Diana speaking at all, but the chaos of the scene made it impossible for any definitive account of her final words to emerge. However, the few brief phrases described by firefighters and medical staff highlight Diana’s brief moments of conscious awareness after the crash, before the severity of her physical trauma rendered her silent in her final moments of life.

Aftermath and Investigation

The sudden and devastating accident sparked enormous public mourning for Diana as well as conspiracy theories about the crash circumstances. Official investigations in France and the United Kingdom sought to reconstruct the exact sequence of events leading up to the fatal crash. Analyses of forensic evidence, witness interviews, and passenger autopsy reports all concluded the driver, Henri Paul, was severely impaired by alcohol and reckless driving at excessive speed to elude paparazzi pursuers on motorcycles. Paul’s negligent actions ultimately resulted in the car crashing at an estimated speed of over 100 mph into the tunnel’s 13th pillar.

The French investigative report definitively attributed the crash to Paul’s intoxication and reckless driving as the main causes, with pursuing paparazzi and bright camera flashes as contributing factors that adversely affected Paul’s control of the vehicle. British investigators concurred that Paul’s impairment from alcohol intoxication directly caused the deadly crash. Extensive forensic results showed Paul’s blood alcohol level was up to three times the legal limit at the time of the accident.

Blood Alcohol Level Effect
0.02%-0.03% Slight euphoria and loss of shyness.
0.04%-0.06% Feeling of well-being, relaxation, lower inhibitions.
0.07%-0.09% Speech, balance, coordination, reaction time impaired. Judgment and self-control reduced.
0.10%-0.125% Significant impairment of motor coordination and loss of good judgment.
0.13%-0.15% Gross motor impairment and lack of physical control. Blurred vision and major loss of balance.
0.16%-0.20%+ Dysphoria predominates, nausea may appear. The drinker has the appearance of a “sloppy drunk.”
0.25%+ Needs assistance in walking; total mental confusion. Dysphoria with nausea and some vomiting.
0.30%+ Loss of consciousness.
0.40%+ Onset of coma, possible death due to respiratory arrest.

According to the autopsy results, Paul’s blood alcohol content was measured at 0.175% – more than three times the legal limit for driving in France. At this dangerously high level of intoxication, Paul exhibited gross impairment of his motor skills, judgment, and behavior, making the crash a predictable consequence of his extremely reckless actions.

Diana’s Life and Legacy

Although her tragic death ended Diana’s life far too soon at age 36, her legacy as a deeply caring, warmly human icon of compassion lives on. From her royal wedding to Prince Charles in 1981 to her roles as mother to Princes William and Harry, and extensive humanitarian work for AIDS patients, landmine survivors, and other causes, Diana showed a dedication and genuineness that inspired people worldwide. Her feet-on-the-ground style broke down barriers and changed public perceptions surrounding the British monarchy. Diana brought a refreshing informality to her royal role, famously hugging AIDS patients, sitting on hospital beds talking to patients, and taking her young sons on public transportation – actions that made her famously known as “The People’s Princess.”

Diana’s life story of romance, royalty, tragedy, and humanitarianism continues to intrigue and inspire. Speculation still swirls around her relationship with Dodi Fayed in the final year of her life, her feelings regarding Charles’ affair with Camilla Parker Bowles, and how the future path of her life may have unfolded had it not been cut short. On the anniversary of Diana’s birth each July 1st, fans still leave flowers and memorial tributes outside the gates of Kensington Palace, Diana’s home during her marriage to Charles and final residence before her death. Despite the passage of time, Diana’s memory lives on brightly in the hearts of admirers worldwide.

Diana’s Early Life

Diana Spencer was born into an aristocratic British family on July 1, 1961. She grew up in Norfolk, England in relative anonymity as the daughter of a viscount and attended private boarding schools in her youth. At age 16, Diana met Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne who was 13 years her senior. Their relationship developed as Charles seriously pursued Diana for marriage when she was 18. The world’s press and public enthused over the whirlwind courtship of the prince and the shy young beauty, labeled “Shy Di” by the media. Nearly one billion people globally watched the television broadcast of their elaborate royal wedding on July 29, 1981 at St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Marriage and Motherhood

The fairytale image surrounding the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer soon eroded. Charles continued his long-running affair with his former love, Camilla Parker Bowles, leaving Diana feeling trapped, betrayed, and unhappy within her royal marriage. Diana suffered from bulimia and depression throughout the 1980s as her marriage crumbled. In 1992, Charles and Diana publicly announced an “amicable separation” though they remained bound in matrimony. Their divorce became final in 1996, after 15 years of marriage.

Despite marital troubles, Diana embraced her roles as Princess of Wales and mother. She rejected hired nannies and was closely involved in raising her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, determined to give them more normal childhoods outside the palace confines. Diana was a loving, hands-on, and often playful parent who strove to balance royal obligations with family time.

Humanitarian Work

Diana increasingly devoted her time and fame to shining a light on overlooked humanitarian issues and giving back through extensive charity work. She pioneered new approaches in her philanthropy, making hands-on connections with people and speaking openly to raise awareness. She made global headlines in 1987 by visiting HIV/AIDS patients, holding their hands and listening to their stories when such actions carried a stigma. In the 1990s, Diana highlighted the plight of landmine survivors and campaigned for banning landmines. She visited homeless shelters, children’s hospitals, and made memorable appearances walking through minefields and embracing AIDS victims. These actions reflected her compassionate spirit and genuine desire to comfort, support, and care for people in need.

Death and Grief

The sudden death of “the people’s princess” in 1997 plunged the United Kingdom and world into deep grief that continued for weeks. An estimated 2.5 billion people worldwide watched her funeral on television. Mourners left a sea of flowers outside Diana’s Kensington Palace home for months following the tragic accident. The public outpouring of emotion reflected the immense stature and adoration she attained as a royal rebel and humanitarian icon. Though her life was cut short, Diana left an indelible mark through her empathy, modernizing influence on the monarchy, and dedication to philanthropic causes. Her story and memory continue to fascinate and inspire people around the globe.

Conclusion

Princess Diana’s shocking death in a fatal car crash in Paris at age 36 caused an outpouring of grief around the world. Investigations into the accident circumstances detailed the reckless drunk driving of Henri Paul that caused the disastrous collision inside the Alma tunnel on August 31, 1997. In Diana’s final moments of consciousness after the crash, she uttered brief phrases and cries expressing her distress before going into traumatic cardiac arrest. Though her life was tragically cut short, Diana made an indelible impact through her warmth and humanity as “the People’s Princess”, dedicated mother, and global humanitarian. Her words and legacy live on in the hearts of those she touched worldwide.