Nearly three decades ago, the world was shaken by the tragic death of Princess Diana.

On August 31, 1997, Diana, 36, and her partner Dodi Fayed were fleeing photographers in Paris when their car crashed.

The Fatal Crash

Chauffeur Henri Paul reportedly lost control of the vehicle at the entrance of the Pont de l’Alma tunnel. The car first struck another vehicle, then veered left and collided with a pillar at around 65 mph.

The accident claimed the lives of Diana, Dodi, and Henri. The only survivor was Dodi’s bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones.

A Firefighter at the Scene

Emergency crews rushed to the site, and firefighter Xavier Gourmelon was among the first to arrive. He recalled that he didn’t immediately realize who the injured woman was, only noticing a “blonde woman” conscious in the back seat.