It has been two decades since the tragic car crash in a Paris tunnel that ended the life of Diana, Princess of Wales. Yet the questions surrounding that night have never faded. Conspiracy theories, speculation about foul play, and endless investigations have kept her death shrouded in mystery.

Now, Dr. Moncef Daman, the French emergency surgeon who fought to save Diana’s life in the early hours of August 31, 1997, has spoken publicly for the first time. His revelations, both heartbreaking and sobering, provide a rare and intimate glimpse into the final moments of the woman the world knew as “the People’s Princess.”

The Fatal Night in Paris

On the evening of August 30, Diana dined at the Ritz Hotel with her companion, Dodi Fayed, son of Egyptian businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed. Hounded relentlessly by paparazzi, the couple left shortly before midnight in a black Mercedes S280 driven by Henri Paul, the hotel’s acting head of security.

Minutes later, their car entered the Pont de l’Alma tunnel at high speed. Traveling at more than 60 mph — double the limit — the vehicle struck the 13th pillar with devastating force.

Henri Paul and Dodi Fayed were killed instantly. Diana’s bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones, survived with severe injuries. Diana herself was critically wounded but alive when first responders arrived.

“She Was Still Conscious”

Dr. Daman recalls that the Princess reached Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital around 2:06 a.m. “She was clearly in pain. She was trying to breathe, and I attempted to resuscitate her. At one point, she moved her arm,” he said, describing her fragile condition.

Within minutes, Diana went into cardiac arrest. The medical team performed repeated rounds of heart massage while anesthetists worked frantically to stabilize her.

“She had suffered a catastrophic tear to her pulmonary vein, causing massive internal bleeding,” Dr. Daman explained. “It is almost impossible to repair such an injury in an emergency. We tried everything.”

By 4:00 a.m., despite the best efforts of Paris’s top surgeons, Diana was pronounced dead.

Breaking Decades of Silence

For more than 20 years, Dr. Daman kept his memories private, speaking only to police investigators. Bound by professional ethics and haunted by the trauma, he refused all media requests.

So why speak now?

“Every year, on my son’s birthday, I remembered that night. It was the same year he was born,” he admitted. “The weight of what happened never left me. I feel I must tell the truth before it is too late.”

The doctor insists there was no foul play, no secret plot, no sinister medical tampering. “It was a tragic, simple accident. The injuries were too severe. Even in the best hospital in the world, with the best doctors, the outcome would likely have been the same.”

Conspiracies and Questions

His account directly challenges decades of speculation. From the start, Diana’s death was fertile ground for theories:

• The Paparazzi Chase: Many blamed photographers on motorbikes for causing the crash by pursuing the car.

• The Royal Plot: Some believed Diana’s claim, made in a letter, that she feared being killed in a “staged accident.”

• The Emergency Response: Critics argued that the French policy of stabilizing patients on-site — rather than “scoop and run” to a hospital — cost Diana precious time.

• Henri Paul’s Role: With a blood alcohol level three times the legal limit, the driver was officially blamed, though CCTV footage suggested he appeared sober.

Investigations in France and later the UK’s

Operation Paget found no evidence of murder or conspiracy. The cause of death was attributed to excessive speed, a drunk driver, and lack of seatbelts. Still, doubts persisted — fueled by Diana’s status, her turbulent relationship with the monarchy, and her romance with Dodi Fayed.

Dr. Daman’s testimony won’t silence all conspiracy theories, but it reinforces the simplest explanation: catastrophic injuries that no doctor could reverse.

The Lasting Grief

For Princes William and Harry, the loss of their mother was devastating. William was just 15, Harry only 12. Both later admitted the trauma shaped their lives profoundly. William described it as “a pain like no other.” Harry confessed he suppressed his grief for years, only confronting it in adulthood through therapy.

Diana’s funeral, on September 6, 1997, became one of the most-watched broadcasts in history, with 2.5 billion people worldwide tuning in. The image of two young princes walking behind their mother’s coffin remains one of the most searing symbols of modern monarchy.

Diana’s Legacy

Beyond the mystery and speculation, Diana’s legacy lives on. Her humanitarian work on HIV/AIDS, homelessness, and the campaign to ban landmines transformed public attitudes. She was remembered not just as a royal figure but as a woman who connected deeply with ordinary people.

Today, William and Harry continue her work in their own ways, though divided by circumstance. William has made mental health and homelessness central to his public role. Harry, now in California, advocates for veterans and mental health initiatives, often citing his mother’s compassion as his inspiration.

The Surgeon’s Final Word

Dr. Daman says he shares his story not to fuel controversy but to bring closure. “She was my patient for a few minutes,” he said. “I believe I have the right to tell the truth. We did everything we could. It was fate.”

For those who loved Diana, his words may be difficult but also comforting. After years of speculation, the man who held her life in his hands has given a final account: not of conspiracies, but of a young woman whose injuries were simply too severe to survive.