Dutch prince in coma shows signs of "minimal consciousness"
Prince Johan Friso headshot over View of the skiing resort of Lech, western Austria, / CBS/AP
Comatose since he suffered a skiing accident in March, Dutch Prince Johan Friso has been showing signs of "minimal consciousness", the royal family says.
In a statement, the Dutch Royal House said that "it will take many months before there is more clarity" about the prince's chances of recovery.
Prince Johan Friso
It gave no further details, but urged the media "to continue to respect the privacy of the family."
The 44-year-old prince, buried by an avalanche in Austria Feb. 17, is being treated at a London hospital. He was transferred there in March.
The accident occurred as Friso was skiing off-piste in Lech, Austria, despite avalanche warnings, with a childhood friend from the alpine village that the Dutch royal family had been visiting each winter for years.
The friend was carrying an avalanche "air bag" and escaped without serious injury. Friso was found after 25 minutes with the help of a signaling device he was carrying and was flown by helicopter to an Innsbruck clinic.
Royals visit Prince Johan Friso after avalanche
Doctors there told a news conference last spring that it took nearly 50 minutes to reanimate the prince after he was pulled from the snow and "oxygen starvation has caused massive brain damage to the patient."
Friso, the second son of Queen Beatrix, is not in the line of succession because he married without the government's permission. He and his wife, Mabel, had been living in London with their two daughters.
Popular in Entertainment
- Kim Kardashian on baby's arrival: "So crazy!"
- Etheridge calls Jolie's mastectomy a "fearful choice" 75 Comments
- Music critics believe in Kanye West's "Yeezus"
- Listen: John Mayer's new single "Paper Doll"
- "Bachelorette": Desiree lets two lukewarm lovers go
- Johnny Depp on "unpleasant" split with Vanessa Paradis
- Kris Jenner: Kim Kardashian is "thrilled" about baby
- "The Voice": Top three sing for the win
2 Comments Add a Comment
- linkicon reporticon emailicon
- When the brain gets injured such as this or like when someone has a stroke, it starts to re-wire itself trying to find pathways to do functions whose pathways are damaged. The more severe the brian injury, the longer it takes the brain to try to re-establish connections. If he were my husband or family member I would visit everyday, play classical musics, his favorite comedy cd's, favorite TV shows, and funny movies- not action or horror or tense things. I would also read his favorite books and the newspaper to stimulate auditory processing, memories, and he would definitely get physical therapy!! Even good smells like apple pie, baking cookies, food smells. Just sayin'. It couldn't hurt. Prayers and encouragement to this family!
- reply
- linkicon reporticon emailicon
- Is this a declaration that sentience in royalty has been discovered?
- reply
