How did Saudi Arabia’s ‘sleeping prince’ Al-Waleed fall into a 20-year coma?

Prince Al Waleed bin Khalid bin Talal Al Saud passed away on Sunday after 20 years in a coma 

The Saudi royal court announced on Sunday that Prince Al-Waleed bin Khalid bin Talal Al Saud, also known as the ‘sleeping prince’, passed away after spending two decades in a coma. Prince Al Waleed was 36 years old when he passed away after being on life support since 2005.

Born in 1990, Al Waleed was the eldest son of Prince Khalid bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, a member of the Saudi ruling family. He was also the nephew of Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, the Saudi Arabian billionaire businessman and investor.

The accident that left him bedridden happened in 2005 in the UK. The Prince, then 15 years old, was studying at the London Cadet Academy when he was involved in a horrific car accident in the UK. He suffered a horrific brain injury and internal bleeding, which left him in a coma for almost 20 years. He was later moved to  King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, where he has been on life support since 2005.

His father, Prince Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, made the decision to keep his son alive, despite doctors recommending that the Prince be taken off life support. “If God had wanted him to die in the accident, he would have been in his grave now,” he had said. 

Specialists from the US and Spain have tried to treat him over the years with no real progress. In early 2017, a medical delegation consisting of four doctors, including three from the United States and one from Spain, arrived in Saudi Arabia to consider performing a surgical operation "to stop the bleeding from his head." 

The sleeping prince has previously been seen moving parts of his body, which was deemed involuntary. His aunt, Princess Reema bint Talal, sister of Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, posted a video of the sleeping prince moving his head from right to left in 2019. 

Later, he became known as the 'Sleeping Prince'. For the past several years, his progress was posted on social media by his family member, who often prayed around him. Messages of support and remembrance would be made online for the prince every year, especially on his birthday. Over the years, Prince Al-Waleed's room at the hospital had turned into a place for prayer, with many visitors joining the family members to pray for his recovery.

His father often posted heartfelt messages on Ramadan and Eid Al Adha, along with photographs that reflected his faith and hope.

 His family confirmed his death on the weekend with posts on social media. "With hearts full of faith in Allah's decree and destiny, and with profound sadness and sorrow, we mourn our beloved son Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may Allah have mercy on him, who passed away to Allah's mercy today," his father Prince Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz said on social media.

Messages sharing grief and condolences poured over social media immediately after his death was announced.

The funeral prayer will be performed on July 20, following the Asr prayer at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh.

 Many consider the prince’s life and struggle to be a testament to the enduring human spirit and to the devotion of family.