Nearly 29 years have passed since the world mourned the death of Princess Diana, the beloved Princess of Wales, whose life was tragically cut short in a car crash in Paris. On the night of 31 August 1997, Diana was travelling through the Pont de l’Alma tunnel with her boyfriend, Dodi Fayed, driver Henri Paul, and bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones when a high-speed chase with paparazzi ended in disaster. The Mercedes they were in collided violently, instantly killing Paul and Fayed, while Rees-Jones survived but suffered severe injuries. Emergency services rushed to the scene, confronting the chaotic aftermath of the crash in the darkened tunnel.

Among them was firefighter Xavier Gourmelon, who later recalled the terrifying moments he spent attempting to stabilize the princess as first responders worked frantically to save lives. Gourmelon revealed that when he initially approached the wreckage, he did not immediately recognize Diana amidst the crumpled metal of the car. As he came closer, she looked up at him, her voice trembling as she reportedly said: “Oh my God, what’s happened?” Her words, though simple, conveyed a combination of confusion, fear, and the immediate awareness of danger. Gourmelon described her as “agitated” and struggling, her consciousness flickering as paramedics worked to keep her stable.