Princess Diana’s tragic death in a car accident in Paris on August 31, 1997, left the world in shock. The beloved princess, known for her kindness, compassion, and generosity, was mourned by millions. Now, surgeon MonSef Dahman, who tried to save Diana’s life that fateful night, has shared his story for the first time.
Dahman, who was a young duty general surgeon at the Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital in Paris, recalls the night vividly. He had been working a long shift, starting at 8 am, and was still on duty at 2 am when the call came in. “I was resting in the duty room when I got a call from Bruno Riou, the senior duty anaesthetist, telling me to go to the emergency room,” Dahman said. “I wasn’t told it was Lady Diana, but [only] that there’d been a serious accident involving a young woman.”
When Dahman arrived at the emergency room, he was met with a scene of chaos. Diana had suffered serious internal injuries and was undergoing treatment. Dahman performed a surgical procedure, but despite their best efforts, Diana’s heart would not restart. “We tried electric shocks, several times, and, as I had done in the emergency room, cardiac massage,” Dahman explained. “Professor Riou had administered adrenaline. But we could not get her heart beating again.”
Dahman and his team fought to save Diana’s life, but it was too late. The hospital, one of the best in France for emergency care, had done everything possible, but Diana’s injuries were too severe. “We fought hard, we tried a lot, really an awful lot,” Dahman said. “Frankly, when you are working in those conditions, you don’t notice the passage of time. The only thing that is important is that we do everything possible for this young woman.”
Dahman’s account of that night provides a poignant reminder of the tragic loss of Princess Diana. Her legacy lives on, and she remains one of the most beloved figures of our time. As we remember Diana, we also honor the medical team that fought to save her life, and we acknowledge the profound impact she had on the world.
