Princess Diana's last words, spoken shortly after the tragic car crash in Paris in 1997, were: “My God, what has happened?”
These poignant words were heard and revealed by Xavier Gourmelon, a firefighter who was among the first responders on the scene of the accident in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel. Gourmelon recounted in an interview that he had been comforting the Princess of Wales, who appeared conscious, before she uttered this question. He held her hand and tried to reassure her, unaware of the severity of her internal injuries at the time.
Understanding Princess Diana's Final Moments
The account of Princess Diana's last words provides a direct, eyewitness perspective from the chaotic scene of the devastating event.
- Witness Account: Xavier Gourmelon, a firefighter with the Paris Fire Brigade, was directly attending to Diana in the immediate aftermath of the crash.
- Circumstances: Despite her severe internal injuries, Diana was conscious and responsive when Gourmelon reached her. He noted she was moving and appeared to be in a state of shock, though not in immediate visible distress from external injuries.
- The Question: Gourmelon described how Diana looked at him and spoke the specific phrase, "My God, what has happened?", which he found deeply moving and "heartbreaking" in retrospect.
- Medical Assessment: Initially, Gourmelon and his team believed Diana would survive due to her conscious state. However, her condition rapidly deteriorated after she was extracted from the vehicle and transferred to medical care, ultimately succumbing to her injuries.
Gourmelon's testimony is a key piece of information regarding the immediate aftermath of the crash, offering a human perspective on the final moments before medical complications overwhelmed her.
