The Bodyguard's Story: Diana, the Crash, and the Sole Survivor (Hardcover)

by Trevor Rees-Jones (Author), Moira Johnston (Author) "The presence of the Princess on Fayed's yacht, Jonikal, turned Trevor's job upside-down..." (more)
Key Phrases: partie civile, rugby pitch, close protection, Henri Paul, Park Lane, David Crawford (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
"Where were you when Diana died?

For Trevor Rees-Jones, the answer is simple: he was in the same hospital as Diana, fighting for his own life a few rooms away. As bodyguard to her companion Dodi Fayed, he was with the couple when, hounded by paparazzi, and with a driver who turned out to be drunk, their Mercedes crashed into the thirteenth pillar of the tunnel under the Place de l'Alma in Paris. Dodi and the Driver, Henri Paul, died instantaneously, medics say; Diana was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors worked feverishly to resuscitate her before giving up in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Miraculously, Trevor survived. But his condition was critical--internal chest injuries and a broken wrist were the least of it. His head had taken the brunt of the impact and suffered catastrophic damage; his face was crushed beyond recognition. In a stunning medical drama, however, a facial surgeon performed a miracle of reconstruction, and--along with Trevor's own indomitable will and the support of his family and friends--the bodyguard was able to leave the hospital after just over a month. His goal then was straightforward: to return to a normal life as soon as possible, go back to work for his employer, Mohamed Al Fayed, and to the simple pleasures of rugby and his mates at home in Shropshire.

But the crash that nearly killed him had killed Diana, Princess of Wales, one of the most famous women of the late twentieth century. A normal life was no longer an option. An as Mohamed Al Fayed's grief at the loss of his son quickly turned into a desperate hunt for reasons, for culprits and conspiracy, Trevor found his unswerving loyalty to the Boss at first questioned and then, ultimately, destroyed, as Fayed pointed the finger of blame at him.

The Bodyguard's Story grippingly describes, for the first time, Trevor Rees-Jones's part in these astonishing events. From the prelude to Paris, when Trevor found himself minding the Princess and her two sons in the south of France, to the crash itself and its causes and consequences, this book reveals the true, first-hand account of one of the most sensational news stories of the last century. Compelling, alarming and yet deeply moving, it is a remarkable story of courage under fire, and of how ordinary people can react to extraordinary circumstances and survive, scarred, but with their souls and values intact."

About the Author
"Trevor Rees-Jones was born in 1968. A former soldier, he then joined the security staff of Mohamed Al Fayed, the controversial Egyptian multi-millionaire businessman and owner of Harrod's, and worked as personal bodyguard to Fayed's son Dodi. In the summer of 1997, as a friendship developed between Dodi and Diana, Princess of Wales, Trevor found himself a first-hand witness to the events leading up to the crash that would kill them both on August 31 in Paris.

Following his discharge from the hospital, Trevor returned to the UK in October 1997, and was an inside party to the French investigation that followed. He resigned from his job with Fayed the following April, and now lives in Oswestry, Shropshire."

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (March 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446527750
• ISBN-13: 978-0446527750
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (55 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #269,167 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

74 of 80 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Story About A Remarkable Young Man, Not Tabloid Nonsense, March 20, 2000

By	taking a rest - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

This is a straightforward explanation of what Mr. Trevor Rees-Jones experienced, and continues to cope with, to this day. This is not a "Diana" book. While she is a victim in this tragic accident, and the stupidity that lead to it, she is portrayed as a human being. Mr. Rees-Jones shares his time around her and her sons, and portrays Princess Diana as a person and Mother, not as the star of tabloid circus fiction. He was NEVER her bodyguard. He worked for and guarded Mr. Fayed the son, and by extension the Princess, and her Sons.

I picked up this book as I remember that date as the day that took two special people from us, who were also great friends of each other, Mother Teresa and Princess Diana.

This book is written from the perspective of Mr. Rees-Jones with contributions from family, friends and co-workers when he was not conscious to narrate events himself. This is his story, of a remarkable man who recovered from horrendous physical damage, and contends with the accident that will haunt him for life. He and his Family share what it was like for them, how it nearly tore the Family apart, how it may have contributed to the death of his Nain (Grandmother). His story is one of courage and of his personal values and integrity that he never lost, when nearly everyone around him were themselves for sale, regardless of whether they knew anything, or just spouted fiction.

The book gives insight into the French Legal System, emergency medical practices, and the remarkable young reconstructive surgeon who gave this man back his face and his life.

The only time sensationalism appears is when it is condemned. Photographers who literally got in the way of rescue workers so as to get their pictures of the dead and dying. The ridiculous stories that were touted as fact by even the most "respectable" of news agencies.

This is also about a Father who lost his Son, and still will not accept what happened. Today he filed a suit to prevent the Author from benefiting financially from this book. The Author was loyal to Mr. Fayed long after 99% of people would have told him where to get off.

Nothing less than a conspiracy of Oliver Stone proportions will satisfy Mr. Fayed the Father. Somewhere I hope he knows that an extremely incapacitated employee of his, who drove a limousine that was owned by a company Mr. Fayed is Co-Owner of, who was not licensed to drive the limousine, was at the wheel when the horrific crash occured.

I also believe the photographers contributed to the accident. What I still don't understand, is how many pictures were needed of this woman, 1 million 2 million? Decide for yourself, but I believe no motorcycles, no white Fiat, no deaths.

A tragic accident brought about by a series of judgement errors. And they were not the errors of the security provided by Mr. Trevor Rees-Jones or his Partner Kez.

Very good book, very sad story.

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It WAS an accident - now let her rest in peace, March 31, 2000

By A Customer

Interesting book. I was devastated at Diana's death, having followed her life since 1980, but I cannot believe the number of Diana admirers who just will not put her death behind them and move on. Trevor Rees Jones clearly outlines the botched Fayed security job not only that fateful night but also throughout her entire involvement with Dodi Fayed. If a car is driven at three times the legal speed limit through a tunnel with a curved entrance and no crash barriers by a drunk driver and none of the occupants are wearing seatbelts, I don't care how famous the occupants are, it seems pretty obvious that this is a recipe for disaster. Diana is gone and as sad as it is, believing Al Fayed's conspiracy theories only does damage to people like Trevor Rees Jones and Prince's William and Harry. I hope Rees Jones' book will be the final word and we can now all let her rest in peace.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting reading, March 26, 2000

By	Cyberlaw "deal" (ca USA) - See all my reviews

The bodyguard Trevor strikes me as having integrity in the way he dealt with this most famous event. I believe he is vindicated, in this honest account, from those who sought to twist the facts to propagate conspiracy theories. Some people just cannot accept the simple truth. Read for yourself and decide. It's well worth the read. May he now go back into obscurity and live out his life normally.