The pathologist has wrote in his new book that there are several ‘if only’s’ that could’ve seen Diana survive the crash
A forensic pathologist has stated in his new book that Princess Diana might have survived the crash if certain factors had been different.
He explained that her fatal injury was “incredibly rare” and that there were several “if onlys” that, had they played out differently, could have changed the outcome.
It’s now been over 28 years since the tragic accident on August 31, 1997, when the 36-year-old Princess Diana and her partner, Dodi Fayed, died while attempting to escape paparazzi in Paris.
According to reports, Princess Diana’s chauffeur, Henri Paul, lost control of the car at the entrance of the Pont de l’Alma tunnel, hitting another vehicle before veering into a pillar at approximately 65 mph.
The crash resulted in the deaths of Diana, Dodi Fayed, and Henri Paul, with only Dodi’s bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones, surviving. Diana went into cardiac arrest and died from internal bleeding caused by severe chest and lung injuries.
However, renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Richard Shepherd has now suggested that Diana might have survived if just a few critical actions had been taken before and immediately after the crash.
After reviewing the evidence, the pathologist stated in his upcoming book Unnatural Causes, set for release on April 18, that Princess Diana suffered an extremely rare injury—a tiny tear in a vein in her lung—something he had never encountered in his career.
“Diana’s injury was very small, but it was in the wrong place,” he explained.
While he aims to put an end to lingering conspiracy theories, emphasizing that her death was undeniably caused by this specific injury, he also describes it as a “classic example” of an “if only” scenario.
Dr. Shepherd noted that Diana likely would have survived if she had been wearing a seatbelt. He wrote: “Had she been restrained, she would probably have appeared in public two days later with a black eye, maybe some shortness of breath from fractured ribs, and a broken arm in a sling.”
According to People, Trevor Rees-Jones, the only survivor of the crash, was also the only passenger wearing a seatbelt—a factor that likely helped absorb some of the impact when Princess Diana was thrown forward into the back of his seat.
Dr. Shepherd pointed out another crucial “if only”—how Diana was positioned in the car. He explained that if she had struck the seat at a slightly different angle or if the collision had occurred at a lower speed, she might have survived.
Another significant “if only” involves the emergency response. Diana wasn’t immediately taken to the hospital because she initially appeared conscious and responsive. However, in reality, a torn vein was causing internal bleeding into her chest.
Firefighter Xavier Gourmelon, one of the first responders at the scene, later admitted he had no idea Diana had sustained such serious internal injuries.
“To be honest, I thought she would live. As far as I knew when she was in the ambulance she was alive and I expected her to live,” he told The Sun after revealing Diana’s tragic last words to him.
A 2004 police inquiry investigated whether there were any suspicious circumstances or if there were any reasons to doubt that the deaths were from an accident, with the inquiry concluding that it was a ‘tragic accident’.
Dr Shepherd agreed with the inquiry’s conclusion, adding in his book: “The pathology of her death is, I believe, indisputable. But around that tiny, fatal tear in a pulmonary vein are woven many other facts, some of which are sufficiently opaque to allow a multitude of theories to blossom.”
