In the tragic car accident in Paris back in 1997, Princess Diana lost her life along with three other individuals. Only one person, Trevor Rees-Jones, the bodyguard, survived that fateful day. This event had a profound and lasting impact on Trevor Rees-Jones’ life, changing it in ways he could never have anticipated.
Who is Trevor Rees-Jones?
Trevor Rees-Jones was born on March 3, 1968, in Rinteln, Germany, to his parents, Colin Rees, a British Army surgeon, and his mother Gill, a nurse. He was the second of three sons in the family.
When Trevor was ten years old, his family moved to Oswestry, a charming town located along the Welsh border. It was in Oswestry that he attended Fitzalan School, and it was here that he would eventually meet the love of his life, Sue Jones, who would become his wife.
After completing his A-levels, Trevor chose to serve his country by enlisting in the Combined Cadet Force. During his service, he embarked on a tour of duty in Northern Ireland with the 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment.
In 1995, a significant turning point in Trevor’s life came when he began working as a private security guard for Mohammed al-Fayed, the notable owner of Harrods and the father of Dodi Fayed and Princess Diana. This career choice would ultimately place him at the center of a historic event.
He began providing protection for his playboy son Dodi while he was employed by Mohamed al-Fayed. Later, he began providing security for Princess Diana.
When the horrific car accident occurred in the summer of 1997, he was with them on vacation.
A week before Dodi and Diana passed away in Paris, the bodyguard refuted accusations made by his former boss that they had selected an engagement ring together in Monte Carlo.
After spending nine days on Dodi’s yacht in the Mediterranean, Diana and Dodi made a stop in Paris on their route to London on August 30.
They were attacked by paparazzi while planning to stay at Dodi’s father’s hotel, the Ritz.
Head of security at the Ritz, Henri Paul, came up with a strategy to drive to Dodi’s flat near the Champs Elysées and exit by the rear door, dodging photographers.
The early hours of August 31, 1997, saw the black Mercedes S280 limousine driven by Mr. Paul collide at 65 mph with a pillar at the Pont de l’Alma underpass.
Diana passed away at a hospital shortly after the driver and Dodi were slain in an instant.
After the accident, Trevor suffered from significant injuries to his head and chest, which left him unconscious for a period of ten days. His facial bones were fractured extensively, and skilled surgeons utilized 150 titanium pieces to reconstruct his severely damaged face. The scars from this traumatic event in 1997 still serve as a reminder of the ordeal he endured.
Furthermore, Trevor experienced substantial memory loss and faces challenges when trying to recall specific details related to the accident. It is worth noting that at the time of the collision, there were four individuals in the car, and subsequent investigations revealed that none of them were wearing seat belts. The driver, in particular, was found to have a blood alcohol level three times higher than the legal limit for operating a vehicle.
