Docs tell of fight to save Di
2007-11-14 21:05
London - Doctors battled to restart Princess Diana's heart after a Paris car crash but decided "by common consent" to stop after failing to stem internal bleeding, a court was told on Wednesday.
Anaesthetist Daniel Eyraud's dramatic testimony was given to the inquest jury investigating the deaths of Diana and her lover Dodi al-Fayed in August 1997.
Medical staff at Paris's La Pitie-Salpetriere hospital attempted by cardiac massage and electric shocks to revive Diana's heart as surgeons tried to clamp a ruptured blood vessel next to the heart.
But all their efforts were in vain.
"We decided by common consent to stop heart massage as it was completely impossible to restore cardiac activity after such a long period of arrest," Eyraud said in a statement read to the jury.
"From that point, the Princess was pronounced dead."
Dodi's father, Harrods owner Mohamed al-Fayed, alleges that the couple was killed by British security services acting on the orders of Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth's husband and Diana's former father-in-law.
Under British law, an inquest is needed to determine the cause of death when someone dies unnaturally.
Condition deteriorated
The jury was told on Wednesday that Diana's condition deteriorated as she was being rushed to hospital after being taken out of the wreck of a shattered Mercedes limousine in the Alma road tunnel.
On arrival at the hospital, Eyraud said: "She was in shock, but nevertheless had a heart rhythm. This means that her blood pressure was very low but that her heart was still beating.
"Throughout the entire operation, internal cardiac massage was performed and rapid transfusions and drips administered, with massive and repeated doses of adrenalin also being injected."
Diana went into cardiac arrest shortly after 02:00 and was pronounced dead two hours later.
"I personally believe we did everything possible to save the Princess with the appropriate means," Eyraud said in his statement.
The inquest, expected to last up to six months and cost up to £10m, was opened after the conclusion of major British and French police investigations.
They both decided Diana and Dodi died because their chauffeur Henri Paul was inebriated and driving too fast.
- Reuters