My understanding is that they used CPR on him, which means he was not just unconscious when retrieved, but that his heart had stopped. It was not merely pulmonary resuscitation and it did take awhile. Essentially, he was dead when they got him out of the snow. But, with young, healthy individuals, the muscles can restart and respond and the heart can start beating again - it's all about the brain at that point. It is simply not possible that his brain would be in perfect condition after such an event; but no one knows the extent of his injury. That's why the amount of time he could breathe under the avalanche is significant - and that's not something anyone can know for sure.
Most of the time, when people survive avalanche burials, they have not lost consciousness and are dug out in 2-3 minutes, not 20 minutes. The family has to have been prepared for the worst by the doctors - which, in their case, is that he is technically alive (brain stem is working) but may never regain normal brain function. This is one of the worst nightmares any family could go through.
So, everyone waits. Naturally, the family has been given grievous news about his medical situation, because while he might continue to live - indefinitely - in this state, he may never actually be functioning again. No one knows. The doctors cannot know. As his core temperature dropped, his body used less oxygen (which is good) but no one knows how long his brain was without oxygen. If the first responders took 3-4 minutes to revive him, that's an extra 3-4 minutes wtihout oxygen, and that's not good. The family has been told all of this, hence the grieving.
It is very sad and ironic that he's named after someone who died in an accident through lack of oxygen (drowning) and very strange.
How old are those darling children and what are their names? If there is no miracle for Prince Friso, let us all pray that the children will be strengthened by all our well wishes and energy sent toward them.
Monarchies represent the survival of human families over long periods of time, and many of us pay attention when something threatens a monarch or his/her family. I guess I understand the allure of high risk skiing (skiing out of bounds in avalanche territory, skiiing really fast when there are trees, skiing in avalanche season, etc.)
It is fun or perhaps compelling, especially for men, to take those kinds of risks. look at Prince Harry preparing for the front lines in Afghanistan. Prince William's chosen profession is not without risk, either. Jousting was popular for the same reasons.
This is all just me rambling, trying to understand a tragedy and continuing to hope and pray that in this case, with such good medical care and a physically fit, fairly young prince, the outcome will be good. The Arizona congresswoman who was shot in the head has made a miraculous and marvelous recovery (with deficits of course, but I believe she and her family are well-pleased and coping well with the outcome).