Princess Diana’s ‘Rambo’ Bodyguard Has Di.d

Princess Diana’s former bodyguard, Lee Sansum, recently passed away from a heart attack, as confirmed by his wife Kate in an emotional tribute. Known for his close bond with Diana during the summer of 1997, Sansum had long believed her tragic death in the Paris car crash might have been prevented had standard safety protocols, such as wearing seatbelts, been followed. He once lost a draw to join the security team that rode with her that night — a twist of fate he felt haunted by for years. In his memoir, Protecting Diana, he recalled the princess’s warmth and openness, and how she called him “Rambo.”

The crash that killed Diana and Dodi Fayed occurred in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel after their vehicle, speeding at nearly 70 mph, hit a central pillar. Only bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones survived, though he suffered severe facial injuries and memory loss. French doctor Frederic Mailliez, who was first on the scene, later revealed he had no idea the woman he was trying to save was Diana. Though Henri Paul, the driver, was later found to have high blood alcohol levels, Trevor maintained Paul showed no signs of intoxication before the ride. The emotional and physical scars from that night linger to this day.