His Royal Highness Prince Friso, 24 February 2012
RVD, 24 February 2012: On behalf of the Royal Family, the Government Information Service wishes to make the following announcement.
The members of His Royal Highness Prince Friso's family need to come to terms with the Prince's situation, and to reorganise their lives accordingly. The Royal Family therefore requests the media to give them the space to do so by respecting their privacy.
His Royal Highness Prince Friso, 24 February 2012
RVD, 24 February 2012: The head of the medical team attending His Royal Highness Prince Friso at Innsbruck university hospital has just issued a press statement giving further information on the Prince's condition and his outlook for the future. The statement was as follows (the written text may differ slightly from the spoken text):
Prince Friso was brought to Innsbruck university hospital by rescue helicopter at about on 17 February, after being buried by an avalanche in Lech. He was covered for approximately 25 minutes. At the hospital, after receiving initial treatment in the reanimation unit, he was taken straight to the intensive care trauma unit. This unit specialises in treating the most seriously injured avalanche patients with the utmost medical and technical expertise. The unit's head is Dr Wolfgang Koller.
Our unit was notified of the patient's imminent arrival and we were able to prepare everything in advance. Prince Friso was brought to the hospital under reanimation conditions. Due to the length of time he was covered under the snow, his brain had been deprived of oxygen. The result was cardiac arrest, which lasted approximately 50 minutes. The patient had to be reanimated during this entire period. Fifty minutes is a very long time. One could say, too long. We hoped that the patient's mild hypothermic state had sufficiently protected the brain against excessive damage. Unfortunately, our hope was in vain. Since last Friday, a team of specialists has been fighting to save Prince Friso's life. Yesterday, a first MRI-scan was possible, without bringing the patient into danger. Since this examination and the latest neurological tests yesterday evening it is clear that the oxygen deprivation has caused extensive damage to the patient's brain. At present it is not certain whether he will ever regain consciousness. In any event, rehabilitation will take months, if not years. Prince Friso's family will now look for an appropriate rehabilitation facility.
His Royal Highness Prince Friso, 22 February 2012
RVD, 22 February 2012: His Royal Highness Prince Friso's condition remains unchanged. It is stable, but he is not out of danger. The doctors attending the Prince will issue a statement giving a prognosis as soon as they are able. That is not yet the case.
His Royal Highness Prince Friso, 19 February 2012
RVD, 19 February 2012: The members of the royal family are sincerely grateful and deeply touched by all the messages ofsupport and kindness they have received since Prince Friso's skiing accident. They are a great support to them at this difficult time.
His Royal Highness Prince Friso, 19 February 2012
RVD, 19 February 2012: His Royal Highness Prince Friso's condition remains unchanged. His condition is stable, but he is not out of danger.
It is possible that the doctors will not be able to give a full prognosis until the end of this week.
His Royal Highness Prince Friso, 18 February 2012
RVD, 18 February 2012: His Royal Highness Prince Friso's condition remains unchanged.
The medical team attending the Prince have asked for the number of visitors to be restricted for the time being.
His Royal Highness Prince Friso, 18 February 2012
RVD, 18 February 2012: The Government Information Service reports that the condition of His Royal Highness Prince Friso remains unchanged, according to the doctors who have been treating him since his accident.
He is still not out of danger, but he had a quiet and stable night. He is being treated by a team of specialists in the hospital's intensive care trauma unit.
His Royal Highness Prince Friso, 17 February 2012
RVD, 17 February 2012: The Government Information Service reports that, according to the doctors who have been treating His Royal Highness Prince Friso since his accident, it will not be possible to give a prognosis for several days.
He is currently in a stable condition, but not out of danger. Her Majesty the Queen and Her Royal Highness Princess Mabel are at the Prince's side.
Prince Friso admitted to Innsbrück hospital, 17 February 2012
RVD, 17 February 2012: On behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, the Government Information Service reports that His Royal Highness Prince Friso was the victim of an avalanche today at Lech ski resort in Austria.
The Prince has been admitted to the intensive care unit of Innsbrück hospital. The doctors treating him say that he is in a stable condition, but not out of danger.
