Princess Diana died 20 years ago today (August 31), and as the public mourns her loss and celebrates her life, French firefighter Xavier Gourmelon is speaking out about the night she passed away in a car accident.
Gourmelon was on scene of the car crash that took Diana's life, and revealed her last words in a heartbreaking interview with ITV.
"Nobody knew it was her, nobody had recognized her," he said. "As I approached, there was a blonde person who was sitting on the floor. She regained consciousness she looked at me and said, 'Oh my God, what's happened?' A bit agitated. I tried to calm her down and tell her we would look after her but she fell into a coma again."
Diana died at 4 a.m. on Sunday, August 31, 1997. In the days leading up to the 20th anniversary of her death, Prince William and Harry have been seen visiting the gifts and tributes left by people paying their respects.
RELATED STORY
"I think it's never going to be easy for the two of us to talk about our mother," Harry said in a recent interview. "But 20 years on seems like a good time to remind people of the difference that she made not just to the royal family but also to the world."
RELATED STORY
Follow Marie Claire on Facebook for the latest celeb news, beauty tips, fascinating reads, livestream video, and more.
-
The Most Iconic TV Romances That We'll Ship ForeverThese will-they-won't-theys had us hooked from season 1.
-
13 Outfit Formulas Defining Hailey Bieber's Laidback Personal StyleCopy and paste to your closet.
-
Dakota Johnson's Black Manicure Is Beauty Foreshadowing at Its FinestThe actor's nails offers a telling look inside Colleen Hoover's 'Verity' book-to-movie adaptation.
-
Americans Have a Surprising Favorite Member of the Royal Family, Per Latest Poll—and It Isn't Princess KateThe rankings are wildly different than the same U.K. survey.
-
Inside Princess Diana's Secret Island Getaways—And How They Differed From William and Kate'sThe late royal enjoyed (mostly) private vacations thanks to one man's help.
-
Princess Diana's Former Lover Speaks Out on Harry and William "Rift" in Rare InterviewJames Hewitt shared his thoughts on how Diana would've handled the situation.
-
Sarah Ferguson Reflects on Her \201cMuch Loved Sister-in-Law\201d Princess Diana in New MessageThe Duchess of York opened up about Diana's legacy on Instagram.
-
Meghan Markle Debuts a New Instagram Strategy in Diana-Approved Weekend WearThe duchess soaked up some sun in a series of posts that departed from her usual content.
-
Princess Diana "Destroyed" Prince Charles's Belongings During Their Doomed HoneymoonThe couple had "blazing rows" throughout their trip on the Royal Yacht Britannia.
-
Princess Kate Raised Eyebrows By Wearing Princess Diana's Priceless Ring During This Risky Vacation ActivityIt was a choice.
-
Prince Charles Sent Princess Diana an Unexpectedly Touching Message Before Their Royal WeddingThe late royal shared the details of his intimate card and personalized gift.
