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| Diana 'rumours' on night of crash | Diana 'rumours' on night of crash |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| There were rumours Diana, Princess of Wales was to announce a pregnancy or engagement to Dodi Al Fayed on the night she died, an inquest has heard. | There were rumours Diana, Princess of Wales was to announce a pregnancy or engagement to Dodi Al Fayed on the night she died, an inquest has heard. |
| A photographer said in a statement that paparazzi outside the Ritz Hotel in Paris on 30 August 1997, had been told to expect an imminent announcement. | |
| The jury also heard evidence from a chauffeur who said he saw the princess in the back of the crashed car. | The jury also heard evidence from a chauffeur who said he saw the princess in the back of the crashed car. |
| She had her eyes open and was apparently conscious, he said. | She had her eyes open and was apparently conscious, he said. |
| The Mercedes carrying Diana and Mr Al Fayed crashed in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel while being followed by paparazzi. | |
| The inquest heard that chauffeur Eric Lifalandry, who was driving past the tunnel shortly after the crash, stopped to assist. | |
| He approached the car he saw people tending to the front seat passenger, bodyguard Trevor Rees and a female passenger in the back - although he did not realise it was Diana. | |
| [My editor] told me that there were rumours of an announcement that Lady Diana was getting married or having a baby and asked me to go to the Ritz Hotel Thierry Orban, photographer | |
| His statement, read to the court, said: "I looked in the back of the car and saw a woman on the floor with her back against the rear right hand door as someone was attending to her. | |
| "I then noticed her open her eyes, I said to myself that she was alive and then went on to the driver. | |
| "I saw his white hand. I knew that he was dead. I couldn't see his face." | |
| Photographer called | |
| The inquest also heard how photographer Thierry Orban of the Sigma picture agency told police that between 2100 and 2130 on 30 August he had been asked by his chief editor to go to the hotel specifically because news was expected. | |
| His statement read to the jury said: "He told me that there were rumours of an announcement that Lady Diana was getting married or having a baby and asked me to go to the Ritz Hotel." | |
| Later, in the early hours of 31 August, he was called again and went to the Pont de l'Alma tunnel after the crash. | |
| Mr Orban remained there until Princess Diana's ambulance left. | |
| He said he photographed the ambulance when it stopped just a short distance from the Pitie Salpetriere Hospital, when the Princess's condition deteriorated sharply. | |
| He said: "The ambulance stopped, the driver got out and got into the back, that was when I took the only photograph of the ambulance, which in any case was blurry. | |
| "It was rocking as if they were doing cardiac massage. Then the ambulance carried on to the Pitie Salpetriere Hospital." | |
| Princess Diana's Mercedes crashed while being pursued by paparazzi | |
| A statement British solicitor Gary Hunter, who was staying at the Royal Alma Hotel near the scene of the crash, was read to the court. | |
| Mr Hunter, who is now deceased, said he heard an "almighty crash" and spotted two cars travelling at an "inordinate speed". | |
| His statement said: "At about 0025 I heard the noise of an almighty crash followed by the noise of skidding tyres and then immediately a further very loud crash." | |
| He said that when he looked out of the window again minutes later, he thought he saw a white Mercedes and a small black car speeding away from the tunnel. | |
| He said: "Both vehicles were travelling at inordinate speed. The white vehicle was almost touching the rear bumper of the small dark vehicle. | |
| "At the junction of the roundabout, with wheels screeching, they turned right, right out of my sight. | |
| "I noticed that the Mercedes was not manoeuvring or signalling to pass the small dark car. | |
| "It was this that made me believe the Mercedes was shielding the rear of the small black car." |