Xavier Gourmelon, the French firefighter who was one of the first responders at the scene of Princess Diana’s fatal car crash in Paris, has recently opened up about the moment he thought he had saved her life. After 20 years of silence, Gourmelon shared the heart-wrenching details of that fateful night in 1997, including Diana’s final words and the hope he had that she might survive.
Gourmelon was part of the emergency crew that arrived at the Pont de l’Alma tunnel shortly after the crash. The scene was chaotic, with the wreckage of the car and paparazzi surrounding the area. Despite the devastation, when Gourmelon reached the Princess of Wales, she was conscious and responsive. “She was moving slightly, and I could hear her say, ‘My God, what’s happened?'” he recalled in an emotional interview. These would be her final words.
At the time, Gourmelon believed Diana’s injuries were not life-threatening. Although she had been in a severe crash, there were no obvious external injuries, and she was able to speak, which gave him hope. “I held her hand and told her to stay calm,” Gourmelon said, thinking the situation was under control. He and his team worked quickly to stabilize her and get her out of the wrecked car.
Gourmelon’s team performed CPR, and after a few minutes, Diana’s condition seemed to improve. Her heartbeat returned, and she appeared to be stabilizing. “To be honest, I thought she would live,” Gourmelon admitted, reflecting on how calm she seemed during the initial moments of their rescue efforts. It wasn’t until much later that he and the world learned the devastating news—Diana had suffered massive internal injuries, and despite their best efforts, she died later in the hospital.
The firefighter explained that he only found out she had passed away the next morning. “It was a complete shock,” he said. “I really thought she was going to be okay.” His account has added a poignant new detail to the tragic story, revealing just how close Diana seemed to surviving in those final moments.
For Gourmelon, the night of August 31, 1997, remains etched in his memory. He had kept the details of Diana’s last moments to himself for many years out of respect for her family and the gravity of the tragedy. However, his account sheds light on the valiant efforts made to save her and the profound sadness felt when those efforts ultimately could not prevent her death.
Princess Diana’s tragic death shocked the world and left a lasting legacy of both grief and admiration for a woman who had touched the hearts of millions. Gourmelon’s recollection of her final moments serves as a reminder of the humanity behind the headlines, the fragility of life, and the valiant attempts made to save one of the most beloved figures of the 20th century.