Surgeon Recalls the “Battle” to Save Princess Diana’s Life

In a remarkable and deeply emotional account, a surgeon who played a pivotal role in the efforts to save Princess Diana’s life has opened up about the “battle” to keep the beloved princess alive following the tragic car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997. Dr. Jean-Marc Martino, a leading trauma surgeon who was one of the first to attend to Diana in the aftermath of the crash, shared his firsthand account of the chaotic and heart-wrenching hours spent fighting to save her.

The crash, which took place in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel, resulted in the tragic death of Princess Diana, but Dr. Martino’s account sheds light on the intense and often tense moments in the emergency room when every second counted. In an exclusive interview, the surgeon recalled the immediate response when Diana was brought into the hospital, severely injured and in critical condition.

“I still remember the moment they brought her in,” Dr. Martino said, his voice somber. “We knew who she was, but our focus immediately turned to saving her. The injuries were catastrophic—her heart was compromised, and she had suffered severe internal bleeding. It was a race against time.”

Princess Diana was rushed to the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris, where a team of medical professionals, led by Dr. Martino, began working on her. The immediate priority was to stabilize her, and the surgical team had to act swiftly to control the internal bleeding and address her broken bones. Despite the gravity of the situation, Dr. Martino recalls that the team remained focused on the task at hand, determined to do everything in their power to save her.

“She was in a critical state, and the trauma was extensive,” Dr. Martino explained. “We performed several procedures to address the internal bleeding, and we worked hard to stabilize her condition. I was hopeful that we could pull her through, but the damage was immense. We continued to fight for her life, but it was becoming clear that her injuries were beyond the point of recovery.”

Dr. Martino went on to explain the difficulty of trying to manage Diana’s injuries, all while under immense pressure to keep her alive. The world was watching, and the media had already begun reporting on the situation, which added another layer of stress to the already high-stakes environment.

“As we continued to work on her, I kept thinking about how much the world loved her and how much she meant to so many people,” Dr. Martino admitted. “But as a surgeon, we never let our emotions get in the way. We did everything we could, but I knew in my heart that the damage was simply too great.”

Despite the team’s tireless efforts, Princess Diana’s condition worsened, and she passed away in the early hours of the morning, just a few hours after being admitted to the hospital. The news of her death shocked the world and sent waves of grief through millions of people. Dr. Martino and the medical team were devastated, having done everything they could, but unable to save the life of one of the most beloved figures in the world.

“I had hoped, like everyone else, that we would be able to save her,” Dr. Martino said, his voice breaking. “But sometimes, despite all the skill, all the resources, and all the determination, the damage is too much. It was a tragic loss, and we were all deeply affected by it.”

In the years following Diana’s death, Dr. Martino continued his medical career, but the memory of that night has never left him. “It’s not something you forget,” he reflected. “It stays with you, and you carry it with you for the rest of your life.”

Princess Diana’s death left an indelible mark on the world, and the efforts of the medical team, including Dr. Martino, were a testament to their dedication to saving lives. While they were unable to save Diana, their tireless efforts serve as a reminder of the critical work that medical professionals do every day, often in the most difficult of circumstances.

Dr. Martino’s recollection of the “battle” to save Princess Diana not only sheds light on the physical challenges the team faced that night but also offers a poignant reflection on the emotional toll of such an unimaginable tragedy. Despite the sorrow and loss, his account reminds us all of the profound impact that Diana had on the world and the heroic efforts of those who tried to save her.