Nearly three decades after the tragic death of Princess Diana in a Paris car crash on August 31, 1997, the surgeon who desperately fought to save her life has finally broken his long-held silence. Dr. MonSef Dahman, the on-duty general surgeon at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital who led the frantic efforts in the operating room, has revealed details that he claims contradict official accounts of her autopsy, sending shockwaves through the world once again.
Diana, then 36, arrived at the hospital in critical condition following the high-speed crash in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel. Her Mercedes had slammed into a pillar while evading paparazzi, killing her companion Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul instantly. Bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones was the sole survivor. Dr. Dahman, then a young doctor in his 30s, was called to the emergency room where he found the “People’s Princess” already undergoing resuscitation.
In his first extensive public account, Dahman described the chaos and desperation of that night. An X-ray revealed severe internal bleeding, and the team performed emergency procedures, including draining fluid from her chest and administering blood transfusions. Renowned heart surgeon Professor Alain Pavie was summoned to assist. They opened her chest and attempted internal cardiac massage, but despite hours of heroic efforts, Diana’s heart could not be restarted. She was pronounced dead at 4 a.m.
What has stunned the public now is Dahman’s assertion that key details from the autopsy were misrepresented or concealed. He insists the primary cause of death—a torn pulmonary vein leading to massive internal hemorrhage—was far more complex than publicly portrayed, and that some findings were downplayed to fit a simpler narrative of a tragic accident. While official investigations in France and Britain concluded it was caused by a drunk driver and excessive speed, Dahman suggests discrepancies in how the injuries and post-mortem results were reported, fueling longstanding questions.
The world mourned Diana like no other royal figure. Millions lined the streets for her funeral, and her death sparked intense scrutiny, including conspiracy theories alleging foul play by the establishment. Dahman’s revelation reignites those debates, as he emphasizes the team’s exhaustive attempts to save her, countering claims of medical negligence. “We tried everything possible,” he has said in past reflections, but this new claim about autopsy inaccuracies adds a layer of intrigue.
Objective reviews of the medical evidence, including the 2008 British inquest, praised the French team’s efforts and ruled the death unlawful due to gross negligence by the driver and pursuing photographers. No evidence of pregnancy or engagement—common conspiracy points—was found. Yet Dahman’s words remind us that Diana’s story continues to captivate, blending heartbreak with unresolved mystery.
As we approach the 29th anniversary, this bombshell from the man who held her fate in his hands ensures Princess Diana remains eternally in the spotlight—a beloved icon whose untimely end still evokes profound emotion and endless speculation.
