Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled, who is from a Saudi Arabian royal family, has died after nearly 20 years in a coma resulting from a fatal car accident in London.
He died at the age of 36 years. He experienced a cerebral hemorrhage and intestinal bleeding as a result of the fatal collision that occurred in 2005.
Affectionately referred to as the ‘sleeping prince’, the terrible incident occurred when he was 15 years old, after which Al-Waleed bin Khaled has never regained full consciousness.
He was placed on a ventilator in the hospital while family and well wishers hoped that he would get back his life back, but fate has its own way of charting our paths in this journey called life.
His heartbroken dad, Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, confirmed the passing of Prince Al-Waleed the ‘sleeping prince’ on X.
The story of the ‘sleeping prince’ is one of a painful experience and a heartwrenching tale that makes it extremely difficult to accept following a horrific accident that turned a young energetic prince’s life for the worse.
Prince Al-Waleed is the first son of his father. Born in April 1990, the ‘sleeping prince’ was the nephew of Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, a wealthy businessman.
At just age 15, Al-Waleed had a devastating car accident that altered his life till he was pronounced dead on July 19.
He was airlifted to Saudi Arabia for medical care where he was admitted at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh and remained under intensive care for two decades.
Notwithstanding the extensive efforts of health specialists, including neurologists and healthcare professionals from Spain and the United States, the ‘sleeping prince’ never regained his life.
Over the past years while in intensive care, prince Al-Waleed has exhibited occasional responses by brief movements but it never lasted. According to experts, his state was a minimally responsive coma.
Prince Al-Waleed was kept throughout his stay at the medical facility on ventilation and up-to-date monitoring. His hospital room transcended its medicinal purpose, evolving into a metaphor of spiritual fortitude where family members and well-wishers throng his space to recite portions of the Quran in anticipation of a divine intervention.
There are videos of the prince captured responding briefly to the recitations which went viral on social media igniting a renewed hope of turning the tables around for good.
For his loved ones and many others who closely watched his situation throughout the Arab world, these brief moments gave them hope.
Prince Khaled bin Talal, his father, maintained optimism over the years, consistently updating the public about his son’s condition and reaffirming his faith in God. He emphasized in one of his interviews that if God desires Prince Al-Waleed to come back to life, he will.
