Princess Diana died from injuries sustained from a car crash in Paris’ Pont de l’Alma tunnel on 31 August 1997
Anish Vij
A firefighter who attended the Paris tunnel where Princess Diana suffered a fatal car crash has revealed what may have been her final words.
It’s been 28 years since the Princess of Wales, her boyfriend Dodi Fayed, and security chief Henri Paul died in a car crash in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in 1997.
Reports suggest that Paul was driving a Mercedes-Benz S280 at high speed while a total of nine journalists were chasing them down.
Paul reportedly lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a column in the underpass, which killed him and Fayed instantly.
Diana and Fayed’s bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones, was left severely injured as firefighters attended the scene with emergency services.
On the 20th anniversary of her death, French firefighter Xavier Gourmelon told Good Morning Britain what she said to him.
It’s been 28 years since Diana’s death (Anwar Hussein/WireImage)
Upon arrival, he said no one was aware who had been involved in the crash, and he couldn’t recognise Diana.
Gourmelon said: “She looked at me and said, ‘Oh my God, what’s happened?’”.
He claims she looked ‘agitated’ in the car wreck before losing consciousness yet again.
“I tried to calm her down and tell her we’d look after her, and she fell into a coma again,” he revealed.
“At that moment, the doctor said she was in cardiac arrest.
Trevor Rees-Jones (front-left) was the only survivor (Jacques Langevin/scottbaker-inquests.gov.uk via Getty Images)
“So, we gave her CPR, and after 20 seconds, she regained consciousness, and we transferred her to the ambulance.”
The firefighter said that after she was taken to the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris, he expected her to make a full recovery, as he could only see the injuries to her shoulders and didn’t see any blood on her.
Sadly, Diana died from another cardiac arrest at around 4.00am, as doctors were unable to resuscitate her.
Fayed’s bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones, sustained severe injuries but survived the crash.
A French investigation concluded that Paul was intoxicated and driving recklessly, which led to the crash.
Diana’s death shook the world (JOHN D MCHUGH/AFP via Getty Images)
Whereas the British inquest, known as Operation Paget, further examined the circumstances and returned with a verdict of ‘unlawful killing’ due to grossly negligent driving.
The inquest also noted that none of the occupants were wearing seat belts, which contributed to the severity of the injuries.
Diana and Fayed embarked on a brief, yet widely publicised romance before their death.
It came after the Princess and Prince Charles finalised their divorce in 1997, after 15 years of marriage.
Their separation was announced in December 1992, as Queen Elizabeth II urged the couple to formally divorce, which they did four years later.
In 1995, two years before the fatal car crash, Diana wrote a note that seemingly predicted her own cause of death.
Featured Image Credit: Mark Reinstein/Corbis via Getty Images
Topics: Royal Family, UK News
Anish Vij
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Home> News> Royal Family
Updated 10:10 11 Nov 2024 GMTPublished 09:48 11 Nov 2024 GMT
Princess Diana’s ex-chauffeur breaks 30 year silence claiming she’d still be alive if he drove that night
Princess Diana’s former chauffeur claims that she would still be around today, if he hadn’t been sacked
Joshua Nair
Princess Diana’s former chauffeur has spoken out for the first time in decades and has made the bold claim that she would still be here today if he was driving that night.
The mystery and intrigue surrounding her death is still a hot topic 27 years on, as people still think about what really happened on that fateful day in Paris.
Just 36 at the time of her death, the Princess of Wales died from the injuries that she sustained in the early hours on 31 August, 1997.
What really happened on 31 August 1997 is still a topic of discussion (Anwar Hussein/WireImage)
The Royal Family member was travelling in a car with boyfriend, filmmaker Dodi Fayed, along with Diana’s driver, Henri Paul, and Fayed’s bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones in Paris in the early hours of the morning.
As the car was chased by nine journalists through the Pont de l’Alma underpass, something went horribly wrong.
It was reported that Paul lost control of the car, crashing into a column in the underpass, killing himself and Fayed instantly, while Diana and Rees-Jones were left critically injured.
Firefighters arrived at the scene with emergency services to attempt to recover those injured and transfer them to hospital, where Diana’s last words, ‘Oh my God, what’s happened?’ were heard by a firefighter.
The former Princess of Wales died from her injuries (PIERRE BOUSSEL/AFP via Getty Images)
Sadly, the former British Princess died at 4am in hospital.
But now, Princess Diana’s former chauffeur has spoken out about the tragic event, saying: “I’d have taken a bullet for Diana. My job was my life.
“I was always there for her. I went from having the dream job to having to start again from scratch.”
He later claimed: “All I know is that if life had taken a different trajectory, if I’d been driving her that night in Paris, she would still be here today… because I would’ve kept her safe.”
Steve revealed that he ‘cannot put into words’ the grief he felt when Princess Diana ‘was killed’.
Steve believes that she would still be alive today if he was driving (Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
A former member of the army, he also explained how he was ‘forced out’ of his job, being made redundant after eight years.
Having long wondered why, it took him watching Netflix’s The Crown series to find out what happened.
Apparently, journalist Martin Bashir had spread lies about the driver, to try and win Diana’s trust prior to his controversial Panorama interview with her.
He told her that Steve had leaked information about her to the press.
Luckily, in May this year, Steve received compensation after Bashir’s false allegations.
Still unhappy, Steve stated: “In essence he told her I was a traitor, when all along the treachery was his.”
Featured Image Credit: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images / PIERRE BOUSSEL/AFP via Getty Images
Topics: BBC, Royal Family, UK News, History
Joshua Nair
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Home> News> Sport
Published 14:58 29 Apr 2025 GMT+1
Resurfaced footage shows harrowing final words of Nascar driver before fatal crash
Professional racer Dale Earnhardt was widely regarded as one of the greatest Nascar drivers in history
Anish Vij
In his last ever interview, Nascar legend Dale Earnhardt was chillingly prophetic about his chances at Daytona 500 in 2001.
At 49, the American stock car racer was at the backend of his career, which began in 1975 during the former NASCAR Winston Cup Series.
Speaking to FOX before the race, however, the 7-time Cup Series champion, known as ‘the Intimidator’, opened up about his concerns.
2001 Daytona 500 turned out to be one of the darkest days in Nascar history when the veteran was involved in a fatal collision during the final lap.
While in third place, Earnhardt collided with Ken Schrader and Sterling Marlin, which caused his car to veer into the outside retaining wall at high speed.
Dale Earnhardt tragically lost his life at the Daytona 500 in 2001 (Fox)
The impact resulted in a fatal basilar skull fracture, and Earnhardt was pronounced dead at Halifax Medical Center shortly after the crash.
His interview with FOX has resurfaced online and it appears that Earnhardt flagged some issues at the time.
“Well, we got a good shot. Got a good race car,” he began.
“Wasn’t really excited about the car yesterday afternoon in the last practice, but the car is coming around. I think it’s gonna be okay. We got a good engine in it.
“Little wind today. Little exciting, I think. It’s going to be some exciting racing. You’re gonna see something you probably have never seen on FOX.”
The Daytona 500 happened to be the first NASCAR points race ever telecast by Fox.
Commenting on the resurfaced clip, one fan said: “I remember that race like it was yesterday. I watched Earnhardt wreck and it didnt seem that bad at the time, so I went about my day.
“Later, when I go home, I turned on ESPN to hear the news and I was shocked. Dale was arguably the best driver to ever race and it was a huge loss for the sport.”
The crash sent shockwaves through the Nascar community (FOX)
Another added: “I remember when this happened my hubby was a huge Earnhardt fan I was not, he crashed & we thought nothing of it it had happened before & found out he died it changed everything.”
As someone else pointed out: “Those unfamiliar with Nascar don’t realise that losing him is the equivalent of losing a Tom Brady or Michael Jordan.”
A month prior to his death, Marlin said that Earnhardt had discussed the possibility of dying in a race car.
“Dale said, ‘If I ever get killed in a race car…I don’t want nobody crying and moaning and groaning. It’s what I love to do, and don’t worry about it’,” Marlin said.
“That’s the way Earnhardt was, and when he buckled that seatbelt Sunday, he knew anything could happen.”
Featured Image Credit: FOX
Topics: Formula 1, Cars, History
Anish Vij
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Home> News> World News
Published 10:17 19 Jul 2025 GMT+1
Air India captain ‘said eerie words to co-pilot at takeoff’ before fatal crash killing 260
A preliminary report has taken a look into the Air India disaster which claimed the lives of 241 people on board
Anish Vij
The captain of the doomed Air India flight allegedly issued a six-word message to his first officer before the fatal crash killed all but one on board.
Air India flight AI171 crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport into the BJ Medical College hostel in Ahmedabad on 12 June.
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national, is the only person who survived, while the other 241 people on board were all killed, and 19 others on the ground died.
A preliminary report published last week suggests that the fuel supplies to the engines of the jet were cut off without either pilot having switched them off.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said: “In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cut off. The other pilot responded that he did not do so.
260 died as a result of the Air India crash (DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP via Getty Images)
Two Western sources, who are said to be familiar with the contents of the black box recordings recovered from the crash, told Corriere della Sera that Captain Sumeet Sabharwal said to First Officer Clive Kunder that ‘the plane is in your hands’.
The sources said it is not unusual for the first officer to manage takeoff proceedings.
Then, as the engines started to recover, one of the pilots transmitted ‘mayday, mayday, mayday’ before the jet was observed by air traffic control to crash outside the airport.
The report states: “The aircraft was destroyed due to impact with the buildings on the ground and subsequent fire.
Sumeet Sabharwal was the Captain of the plane (Handout)
“A total of five buildings were impacted and suffered major structural and fire damages.”
It added that after takeoff, ‘Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of 01 sec’.
“The Engine N1 and N2 began to decrease from their take-off values as the fuel supply to the engines was cut off,” it said.
“As per the EAFR, the Engine 1 fuel cutoff switch transitioned from CUTOFF to RUN at about 08:08:52 UTC. The APU Inlet Door began opening at about 08:08:54 UTC, consistent with the APU Auto Start logic.
First Officer Clive Kunder (pictured) allegedly asked the captain why he moved the fuel switches (Handout)
“Thereafter, at 08:08:56 UTC the Engine 2 fuel cutoff switch also transitions from CUTOFF to RUN. When fuel control switches are moved from CUTOFF to RUN while the aircraft is inflight, each engine’s full authority dual engine control (FADEC) automatically manages a relight and thrust recovery sequence of ignition and fuel introduction.”
An Air India spokesman said of the report’s findings: “Air India stands in solidarity with the families and those affected by the AI171 accident.
“We continue to mourn the loss and are fully committed to providing support during this difficult time.”
Featured Image Credit: Handout
Topics: Air India, Travel, World News
Anish Vij
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Home> News> UK News
Updated 17:42 25 Aug 2025 GMT+1Published 17:15 25 Aug 2025 GMT+1
breaking
Three people dead after helicopter crash during flying lesson on the Isle of Wight
A fourth person has been hospitalised and is in a serious condition
Brenna Cooper
Three people are confirmed dead following a helicopter crash on the Isle of Wight.
Earlier today (25 August) a helicopter carrying four people crashed during a flying lesson near the A3020 Shanklin Road. A major incident was later confirmed by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, which has since been stood down.
Local authorities have now confirmed there are three fatalities from the crash, with a fourth person hospitalised in a critical condition.
The names of the four people onboard the helicopter have not been released publicly.
“There has been a multi-agency response to the scene, including colleagues from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, and the Air Accident Investigation Branch,” A Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary spokesman said.
“The road is closed due to the number of emergency services vehicles at the scene, so please avoid the area at this time.”
An investigation into the crash is underway (Sky News)
According to one local witness who spoke to the Isle of Wight County Press, the helicopter could be seen ‘spiralling’ in the air before it crashed into a hedge.
The woman added that she was the first person on the scene and saw there were four people on board, and she believed the airbags had been activated.
A spokesman for Northumbria Helicopters has since confirmed that its aircraft G-OCLV – which is listed as a Robinson R44 II helicopter – was involved in the accident during a flying lesson.
“Northumbria Helicopters confirms aircraft G-OCLV was involved in an accident in the Shanklin area on the Isle of Wight,” a spokesperson for the company said.
“The flight, which departed from Sandown Airport at approximately 9am was carrying four passengers on board including the pilot, and was undertaking a flying lesson.
The crash occurred on the A3020 Shanklin Road, close to the town of Ventor (Getty Stock Images)
“Northumbria Helicopters is giving its full co-operation to the authorities investigating this incident.”
A spokeswoman for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance confirmed that one person had been airlifted to hospital.
She said: “We have treated and airlifted one patient to the major trauma centre, University Hospital Southampton. Our thoughts are with them, and everyone involved in today’s incident.”
A spokesman for the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said: “The AAIB was notified of an accident involving a light helicopter on the Isle of Wight this morning. We are deploying a team to commence an investigation.”
Featured Image Credit: (Sky News)
