On the night of August 31, 1997, the world was shaken by the tragic death of Diana, Princess of Wales. The fatal car crash in Paris’s Pont de l’Alma tunnel not only claimed the life of the beloved royal but also ignited a global outpouring of grief and a cascade of questions that linger to this day.

The Fateful Night
Princess Diana was in Paris with her companion, Dodi Fayed, the son of Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Al-Fayed. After leaving the Hôtel Ritz, the couple embarked on a journey intended to evade the relentless paparazzi. Their vehicle, a black Mercedes-Benz S280, was driven by Henri Paul, the hotel’s acting head of security. Also accompanying them was Trevor Rees-Jones, Fayed’s bodyguard.

As they entered the Pont de l’Alma tunnel, the car, traveling at high speed, collided with the 13th pillar. Henri Paul and Dodi Fayed were pronounced dead at the scene. Princess Diana was critically injured but still alive when emergency services arrived. Trevor Rees-Jones survived with severe injuries.

The Firefighter’s Account
French firefighter Xavier Gourmelon was among the first responders. In interviews years later, Gourmelon recounted that upon reaching the wreckage, he found Diana conscious and aware. She reportedly asked, “My God, what’s happened?”—words that would be her last. Gourmelon administered CPR, and Diana showed signs of recovery, leading him to believe she would survive. However, she suffered a cardiac arrest shortly after and was transported to Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 4:53 a.m.

Aftermath and Investigations
The crash prompted multiple investigations. A French inquiry concluded in 1999 that Henri Paul, who was found to be intoxicated, lost control of the vehicle at high speed. In 2008, the British Operation Paget inquest determined that Diana and Fayed were unlawfully killed due to the gross negligence of both Paul and the pursuing paparazzi.