By Ebiere Kekeboro
A Saudi Arabian royal who spent more than two decades in a coma after a horrific car crash in London has died at the age of 36.
Prince Al-Waleed bin Khalid Al-Saud suffered a brain hemorrhage and internal bleeding in the devastating accident in 2005, when he was just 15 years old.
The prince’s father, Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, confirmed his death in a heartbreaking post on X, quoting a verse from the Quran. “With hearts believing in Allah’s will and decree, and with deep sorrow and sadness, we mourn our beloved son: Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may Allah have mercy on him, who passed away today,” he wrote.
Prince Al-Waleed was studying at a military college in London when he was involved in the car crash. After the accident, he was hospitalized at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh, where he remained in a coma ever since.
Despite the prince’s prolonged coma, his father never gave up hope that his son would one day make a full recovery. He remained involved in the prince’s care and firmly rejected calls to withdraw life support.
The news of Prince Al-Waleed’s passing has sparked an outpouring of condolences on social media, with thousands offering their sympathies to his loved ones. “May Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled, Rest In Peace. Deepest sympathies to his loved ones,” one user wrote.
Funeral prayers for the prince will be held today at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh.