Prince Friso in Critical Condition Following Skiing Accident: February 17, 2012

[lucien]

Todays communiqués in english,german and dutch:

News - Het Koninklijk Huis

Pressemitteilungen - Het Koninklijk Huis

Home - Het Koninklijk Huis

[fandesacs2003]

I think the two princes and their wives had no choice. Either they should have sent back all their kids + the 2 Friso's girls (!!!) or since the kids stay there they have to keep them busy. What else could they do? Keep them inside and make them feel adult's grief and agony? no!

[susan alicia]

Perhaps mentioned by someone else but I am surprised that the queen and mabel wear black when visiting friso

[gerry]

Originally Posted by Muhler

I'm getting a little confused now.

What are the official hard facts regarding Prince Friso's condition?

So far from all sort of sources we have learned that:

He was buried in snow for up to 20 minutes. - Check.
He bodytemperature was reduced when he was dug out - Check.
He was unconscious when dug out and he to be resuscitated. - Check.
He is either in coma or is in artificial coma. - Which?
He knocked his head or he has a skull frature. - Correct?
He was able to breathe for an unknown length of time, while being buried. - Correct?
He underwent surgery to relieve pressure on his brain. - Correct?
The doctors cannot tell at present whether he will recover completely. Is braindead. Or may suffer from a braindamage until in a couple of days more. - Correct?

Thanks for this post Muhler which shows what happens when press relations are not properly managed. It has been mentioned elsewhere here (the excellent Lucien, I believe, our correspondent in Amsterdam) that one of the leading Dutch dailies, NRC Handelsblad, has a correspondent in Innsbruck whose husband just happens to be a neurosurgeon giving workshops at the hospital where Prince Friso is being treated. Needless to say, Ms Koelewijn (the lady in question) took it upon herself to report what one of her husband's colleagues, the neurosurgeon treating the prince, had said regarding the prince's condition. In all fairness, she did identify herself as a newsreporter, so that the prince's doctor was aware that what he said would be published. Normally of course, the Dutch government news service RVD manages all communication with the Royal Household, but in this case the Dutch newspaper NRC felt it ethically correct to publish Ms Koelewijn's report. In this way, too much information is now fluttering about like snowflakes, causing confusion and distraction, as you point out.

[Alexey 1904]

CNN finally mentioned the Prince's accident this morning. The report said simply: 'Dutch prince severely hurt in Austrian avalanche.' It's not much, but any Dutch-Americans who may have been watching and didn't know about the accident have been informed.

[katherine2001]

My thoughts and prayers are with Prince Friso and all his family, and I am praying that he will make a full recovery. It's good that his brothers and sister-in-laws are taking the kids out and keeping them busy. I'm sure that the adults aren't allowed to spend much time with Prince Friso, and children most definitely wouldn't be allowed to visit him anyway. I'm glad that his brothers have gotten there to be with him. I have a feeling that if the Dutch government had tried to stop them, they would have gone anyway. I know that I would this if either of my brothers was in the hospital with a serious injury--nothing would stop me from getting there.

[Lindy]

It's good for them to do some skiing, as exercise helps with stress. I don't think the Dutch government would try to stop the brothers from going to Lech. They have all gone to Austria on vacation together in the past.

[agogo]

Originally Posted by susan alicia

Perhaps mentioned by someone else but I am surprised that the queen and mabel wear black when visiting friso

It is sometimes difficult to make decisions in the midst of such an event. This type of a situation is horrible to go through. The fear and crushing anxiety that comes with waiting for a miracle recovery of a loved family member is overwhelming. Sometimes one just numbly goes through the motions of life and it is difficult to believe that what is happening is really happening. Someone or a staff member probably suggested black, anyhow, if they wore orange or red that would be criticized too.

My prayers are with the Queen's family.

[Baroness of Books]

This period of waiting must be so agonizing for them; so long and drawn out wondering what will be the outcome.

[sheikah deena]

SAD Photos Queen Beatrix she Look Not Good at All , GOD SAVE HIM

[Patra]

I'm getting more doubtful and worried as time goes by- the expressions on the Senior Dutch Royals faces so glum, the announcement of no change in his condition, just looks bad all around. I DO believe in miracles, and will pray for one in mass this afternoon.

[tundra]

Originally Posted by susan alicia

Perhaps mentioned by someone else but I am surprised that the queen and mabel wear black when visiting friso

Almost all my winter clothes are black so to me that wouldn't be unusual. Where i live we are getting quite a bit of snow and black makes you more visiable.

I think the family is doing what they do best, pulling together for support during this time.

[LadyFinn]

All the best for prince Friso and a lot of strength to his family.

Another avalanche, my countryman skier died in Austria:
Finnish skier dies in Austrian avalanche | News | YLE Uutiset | yle.fi

[yvr girl]

CNN actually had it on its ticker and website since Friday. It's how i learned of the accident.

[Alexey 1904]

I stand corrected about CNN, then. I saw it for the first time only this morning. It just proves that the cable networks like to rehash old news for 2 or 3 days after the incident has happened.

[katherine2001]

Originally Posted by LadyFinn

All the best for prince Friso and a lot of strength to his family.

Another avalanche, my countryman skier died in Austria:
Finnish skier dies in Austrian avalanche | News | YLE Uutiset | yle.fi

It seems like there have been a lot of avalanches this year. There have been several this winter here in Montana and several have died in them, including very experienced skiers and snowboarders.

[Lumutqueen]

Originally Posted by Alexey 1904

I stand corrected about CNN, then. I saw it for the first time only this morning. It just proves that the cable networks like to rehash old news for 2 or 3 days after the incident has happened.

Hang on, so the first time you criticised them for 'finally mentioning it', now you're criticising them for rehashing the story.
The majority of the news stations keep the same stories running for a few days when new information is added to the same articles. BBC News and Daily Mail have added new pieces of information to their existing articles on the Prince's accident. News stations aren't going to know everything at once because the priority is obviously the condition of the injured party.

[Suzzanah]

I hope that the Prince of Orange- Nassau is doing well at this time. I wonder who will be assuming his duties while he is on sick leave. Let us all hope for a speedy recovery and thank the avalanche team for saving his life.

[fandesacs2003]

Originally Posted by Suzzanah

I hope that the Prince of Orange- Nassau is doing well at this time. I wonder who will be assuming his duties while he is on sick leave. Let us all hope for a speedy recovery and thank the avalanche team for saving his life.

My dear i think that he is fighting for his life. No question for anything else at this moment!

[PrincessKaimi]

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).