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LEE SANSUM, WHO WAS PRINCESS DIANA'S BODYGUARD, PREVIOUSLY CLAIMED THAT HER DEATH COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. 19:48, 20 May 2025 Lee Sansum, a former bodyguard who protected Princess Diana
during the last months of her life, has tragically died at 63 following a fatal heart attack at his home. Sansum, an ex-royal military police officer, served Diana while employed by Mohamed
Al-Fayed., the father of her then-boyfriend Dodi Fayed. He looked after Diana and her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, as they enjoyed a luxurious holiday in St Tropez, staying on
Mohammed's superyacht. The officer had previously described the late princess as an "amazing woman". Just weeks after Lee was responsible for Diana's safety, her life
ended abruptly in a devastating car crash – a tragedy he believed could have been avoided if he had been on duty that night. Diana's death occurred on 31 August, 1997, following a
tragic car accident in Paris which also took the lives of her companion Dodi, aged 42, and their driver Henri Paul. They were fleeing paparazzi when their vehicle crashed in the Pont de
l'Alma tunnel. Paul, who had consumed alcohol prior to driving, was speeding through the tunnel when he lost control of the car and collided with a pillar. Trevor Rees-Jones,
Diana's bodyguard on that fateful evening, was the sole survivor of the terrible accident, though he sustained grave injuries, reports the Mirror. Article continues below "It could
have been me in that car," Lee previously told The Sun, reflecting on the tragic accident that claimed Princess Diana's life, suggesting that one significant change might have
altered the outcome. "We drew straws to see who would be accompanying Trevor that weekend. I pulled a match and it was a long one. When I learned they were not wearing seatbelts in the
crash I understood why they didn't survive. That shouldn't have happened. "It was standard practice for the family to wear seatbelts. It was an order sent down from the boss,
Dodi's dad Mohamed Fayed. Dodi, in particular, hated wearing seatbelts and I always insisted on it." Diana had endearingly nicknamed Lee "Rambo" during his tenure as her
protector, but he is not alone in his reflections on her untimely death at 36. Ken Wharfe, another former bodyguard of Diana who served from 1987 to 1993, also opined that her death might
have been preventable. "The one thing that would have saved Diana's life that night would have been if they'd kicked out the chauffeur and for Rees-Jones to have driven,"
he stated. Wharfe further mentioned that Dodi was considered a "difficult" employer, which could have made it challenging for staff to suggest a different driver. He speculated
that had Diana been persuaded by the late Queen Elizabeth to maintain her police security detail, the fatal accident might not have happened. Sansum made note of the touching personal letter
Diana had sent him in appreciation of his efforts during her vacation. "William, Harry, and I very much wanted to write and thank you for taking such good care of us in Saint
Tropez," she penned. "We realise that our presence, along with that of the media, made your job enormously difficult, and for that we apologise! "However, we all had a magical
ten days - which would not have been possible without your invaluable contribution and for that, we all send our warmest possible thanks." JOIN THE DAILY RECORD WHATSAPP COMMUNITY! Get
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your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The sad announcement of Lee's passing was conveyed by his wife Kate in a heartfelt
social media message on May 19. "Since meeting in 1998, Lee Sansum has been my soul mate, hero and most amazing man in my world," she wrote. "So I'm devastated to share
that he is no longer with us. He had a fatal heart attack on Saturday morning at home. "His huge presence will be missed around the world as much as it is in our household although his
capacity for love, and the life skills he has shared have left a legacy that will never be lost... I love you more than ever 'My Lovely Lee'." Article continues below