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Doctor saw princess 'still alive' | Doctor saw princess 'still alive' |
(10 minutes later) | |
The first doctor on the scene of Princess Diana's fatal Paris crash thought she would survive, her inquest has heard. | The first doctor on the scene of Princess Diana's fatal Paris crash thought she would survive, her inquest has heard. |
Dr Frederic Mailliez was driving through the Pont de l'Alma tunnel when he saw the Princess' crashed car in the opposite carriageway. | Dr Frederic Mailliez was driving through the Pont de l'Alma tunnel when he saw the Princess' crashed car in the opposite carriageway. |
He ran across the road to see if he could help anyone. | He ran across the road to see if he could help anyone. |
"She was alive. She was moaning, she was breathing but she was really weak," he said via video link from Paris. | "She was alive. She was moaning, she was breathing but she was really weak," he said via video link from Paris. |
He said: "I remember the horn making a noise and I remember the front of the car was damaged, the engine almost cut in two parts, that showed me that it was a high-energy accident." | He said: "I remember the horn making a noise and I remember the front of the car was damaged, the engine almost cut in two parts, that showed me that it was a high-energy accident." |
Driver Henri Paul and Dodi Al Fayed were already dead when he looked into the car, he said. | Driver Henri Paul and Dodi Al Fayed were already dead when he looked into the car, he said. |
He could see that bodyguard Trevor Rees was alive but very seriously injured in the front passenger seat. | He could see that bodyguard Trevor Rees was alive but very seriously injured in the front passenger seat. |
He only found out that the woman in the back seat was Princess Diana when he saw the news the day after the crash on 31 August 1997. | He only found out that the woman in the back seat was Princess Diana when he saw the news the day after the crash on 31 August 1997. |
Initial assessment | |
The Princess had no obvious head injury, the doctor said. | |
"I do not remember any injury on her forehead. | |
"I just remember a few drops of blood but I would not say a serious injury." | |
Dr Mailliez called the emergency dispatch centre as he had worked as an emergency doctor for the fire brigade. | |
He gave an initial medical assessment and handed over to a medical team when the first ambulance arrived. | |
Richard Keen QC, representing the family of Henri Paul, asked him: "Do you remember saying that you thought the lady you had treated would survive?" | |
He answered: "Yes, I said that." | |
He could not judge the extent of the Princess' internal injuries, he said. | |
"I did not have any way to make any precise diagnosis," he said. | |
"I did not have the equipment to take the blood pressure so my supposition of diagnosis was the head injury but I had to suspect something serious." | |
The inquest continues. | The inquest continues. |