Saudi Arabia's 'Sleeping Prince' dies after 20 years in a coma
Al Waled bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud was 15 years old when he suffered an accident that left him unconscious for two decades.
BarcelonaSaudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, popularly known as the Sleeping Prince, has died at the age of 36 after spending more than two decades in a coma. His father, Prince Khaled bin Tabal, confirmed this via X. Al-Waleed had been unconscious since 2005, when he suffered an accident in London that caused a brain hemorrhage and internal bleeding.
The news was made public on social media, where his father expressed his sadness: "With a heart of faith in the will and destiny of Allah, and with deep sadness and pain, we mourn the loss of our beloved son." The official Saudi news agency, SPA, confirmed the announcement and reported that the funeral, which will only be attended by men, will take place at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Grand Mosque in Riyadh.
The accident that marked him forever
At just 15 years old, the Sleeping Prince was involved in a car accident in London, where he was studying at a military school. The accident caused severe cerebral hemorrhage and multiple internal injuries. He had been in a coma ever since. He was first admitted to medical centers in the United Kingdom and later transferred to the King Abdulaziz Medical City Hospital in Riyadh. During those years, Al-Waleed had brief episodes of limited movement, which were recorded by his family. Despite medical reports suggesting withdrawing life support, they always rejected that option.