Latest news with #SleepingPrince
IOL News
13-05-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Saudi Arabia's ‘Sleeping Prince' turns 36: a family's 20-year vigil for a miracle
Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal has been in a coma since 2005. Image: NDTV screenshot The story of Saudi royal Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal, often referred to as the "Sleeping Prince", is as heartbreaking as it is thought-provoking. Since 2005, this young man, once a vibrant 16-year-old with dreams of serving in a British military college, has been in a deep coma following a severe car accident, according to NDTV. Now, 20 years later, his family remains steadfast in their faith, refusing to withdraw life support despite medical consensus deeming his condition irreversible. The ongoing saga is a stark reminder of the profound moral, ethical, and emotional dilemmas faced by families and medical professionals when grappling with such decisions. At its heart lies a question that transcends culture and geography: When does hope become a burden, and who decides when to let go? The case became a global conversation in April 2025, as the prince turned 36 years old. The family's unwavering belief in a miracle, despite two decades of medical diagnoses and prognoses labelling his condition irreversible, has reignited debates on medical ethics and the role of faith in healthcare decisions. An old statement resurfaced online of the prince's father, Khaled bin Talal, stating that his persistence is rooted in faith. 'If God had wanted him to die in the accident, he would be in his grave right now'. سعودی شہزادہ الولید بن خالد بن طلال، جو دو دہائیوں سے زائد عرصے تک کوما میں ہیں اور پوری عرب دنیا میں "Sleeping Prince" کے نام سے جانے جاتے ہیں، نے جمعہ 18 اپریل کو اپنی 36 ویں سالگرہ منائی۔ سعودی پرنس 2005 میں لندن میں ایک خوفناک کار حادثے کے نتیجے میں کوما میں چلے گئے تھے تاہم… — Your Desire (@YousafK53695321) April 22, 2025 His words struck a chord with many who share similar religious convictions. At the same time, sceptics point to the immense physical, emotional, and financial toll such decisions can take, not only on the family but also on healthcare systems. While the decision to keep someone on life support for decades is not without consequences. Beyond the emotional toll, the financial strain can be staggering. Reports suggest that long-term care for patients in comas can cost anywhere from $70,000 to $150,000 annually, depending on the country and medical facilities involved. For the majority of families, such costs are unsustainable, often leading to difficult compromises. In the case of Al-Waleed, however, financial resources are not a concern. As a member of Saudi Arabia's royal family, his care is provided at the state-of-the-art King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh. But for countless others, the decision to continue life support may come at the expense of their own financial stability. This is not an isolated story. Families around the world face comparable situations, though perhaps less publicised. According to a 2021 study published in "Critical Care Medicine", around 6% of ICU patients in the U.S. remain in prolonged states of unconsciousness, such as comas or vegetative states. In many cases, the decision to continue or withdraw life support becomes a deeply personal one, influenced by cultural, religious, and emotional factors. Medical professionals, too, bear the weight of these dilemmas. While their primary responsibility is to prioritise the well-being of patients, they must also respect the wishes of families, even when those wishes conflict with clinical evidence. In cases like Al-Waleed's, where the prognosis is considered irreversible, doctors often advocate for withdrawing life support, citing the importance of quality of life over mere biological existence. However, families may view such recommendations as giving up on their loved one. The challenge is balancing the scientific evidence with the family's emotional and spiritual needs. Doctors are trained to save lives, but they're also trained to recognise when further intervention is futile. It's a heartbreaking conversation to have, but a necessary one. Perhaps the most poignant aspect of this story is the lost potential of a life once full of promise. Al-Waleed had ambitions of serving in the military, a dream now frozen in time. For his family, every day on life support is an act of love, a testament to their belief that miracles can happen. But for many others, such prolonged states of limbo spark questions about what the patient would have wanted. If he could speak, would he ask to be kept alive indefinitely, or would he have chosen to let go? These are questions that haunt families worldwide, and they often remain unanswered. At its core, the story is not just about one family or one culture, it's a universal tale of love, hope, and the human struggle to find meaning in loss. It forces us to confront uncomfortable questions about mortality, faith, and the limits of modern medicine. For families facing similar dilemmas, the 'Sleeping Prince' serves as both a source of inspiration and a reminder of the weight such decisions carry. Whether driven by faith, science, or love, these choices reflect the complexity of human life and the enduring hope that, even in the darkest of times, something miraculous might still be possible.
Indian Express
22-04-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Saudi Arabia's ‘Sleeping Prince' turns 36 after nearly 20 years in coma
Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal, a Saudi royal often called the 'Sleeping Prince', recently marked his 36th birthday while still in a coma, nearly two decades after a car crash left him unconscious. According to Roya News, the prince was just a young student at a military college in 2005 when he suffered a serious head injury in a road accident. Since then, he has remained in a coma, kept alive by machines at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh. Who is the 'Sleeping Prince'? Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal, a member of the Saudi royal family, is often referred to as the 'Sleeping Prince' due to his long-term coma. He is the great-grandson of King Abdulaziz, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia, and the grandson of Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz. Though not directly related to the current king, Salman bin Abdulaziz is his great-uncle. Despite doctors recommending life support be stopped, Prince Al-Waleed's father, Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, has refused. He holds strong hope that his son will recover. 'If God had wanted him to die in the accident, he would have been in his grave now,' the father reportedly said, choosing to continue care for his son. In 2019, there were reports that Prince Al-Waleed showed small signs of movement, such as raising a finger or turning his head, but these did not lead to full consciousness. His condition has again drawn public attention on social media following his birthday on April 18, with people sharing photos of the prince surrounded by loved ones. Prince Al-Waleed is the great-grandson of Saudi Arabia's founding king, Abdulaziz Al Saud. His grandfather, Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz, was one of King Abdulaziz's many sons. The current ruler, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, is also a son of King Abdulaziz making him the prince's great-uncle.
India.com
22-04-2025
- Health
- India.com
Who is Saudi Arabia's 'Sleeping Prince' Al-Waleed, the billionaire prince is sleeping for last 20 years due to..., he woke up only once in...
New Delhi: People are always fascinated by the extraordinary lives of royal families. Whether it is the British royal family or the Saudi royal family, they capture people's attention. Their lives often seem filled with luxury and privileges, yet behind the golden walls of their palaces, some royal stories are sometimes written in unimaginable sorrow. One of the most heart-breaking stories is that of Saudi prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal, who is now known as the 'Sleeping Prince.' Prince Al-Waleed celebrated his 36th birthday on April 18, 2025. However, there has been no information about him for many years. He is famously known as the 'Sleeping Prince.' But why? What happened that he has been in a coma for the past 20 years? A dangerous accident plunged Prince Al-Waleed's life into darkness. He was a victim of a severe car accident in 2005, and since then, he has been in a coma for the last 20 years. At the time of his accident, he was studying at a military college. Prince Al-Waleed is the grandson of King Abdulaziz, the founder of Saudi Arabia. His father, Prince Khalid bin Talal, is the son of Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz, who is a son of King Abdulaziz. In this way, Prince Al-Waleed is related to the Saudi royal family, although he is not a direct heir to the current king. Now, his life is spent in the darkness of a coma. He is lying in King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, where he is being cared for. His life has been sustained by machines for the past 20 years. According to a report by Roya News, Prince Al-Waleed has been on a ventilator for the last 20 years and is fed through a feeding tube. The report states, 'The prince is on a life support system and depends on mechanical ventilation and a feeding tube.' The last recorded movements in his body were in 2019 when he reportedly tried to say something in small gestures. During that time, he had raised his finger and slightly shook his head. However, doctors say that these were not signs of him regaining consciousness. Nevertheless, during that time, his family was once again filled with hope for his return from the coma. The wait for his awakening is still ongoing.
Hindustan Times
22-04-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Why is 36-year-old Saudi billionaire Prince Al-Waleed called the ‘Sleeping Prince'?
Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal, a member of the Saudi royal family widely known as the "Sleeping Prince", marked his 36th birthday on April 18, 2025. He has been in a coma for nearly 20 years following a car accident in 2005. Despite medical advice to end life support, his father declined, holding on to hope for recovery. Prince Al-Waleed, the great-grandson of Saudi Arabia's founder King Abdulaziz, continues to receive life support in Riyadh, according to The Times of India. His family remains hopeful. Following his recent birthday, the 'Sleeping Prince' drew widespread attention on social media, with many users sharing his photos alongside family members. Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal of Saudi Arabia, often referred to as the 'Sleeping Prince', has been in a coma since a road accident in 2005 while studying at a military college. Now 36, he remains unaware of the years gone by, tethered to life through machines at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh. As reported by Roya News, the prince has been on a ventilator and is fed through a feeding tube for the past two decades. In 2019, he reportedly showed slight signs of awareness, such as lifting a finger or moving his head, but these gestures did not signal a return to full consciousness. Despite medical advice to end life support, his father, Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, stood firm in his belief. "If God had wanted him to die in the accident, he would have been in his grave now," he said, choosing instead to continue the fight for his son's life. Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal, though a member of the Saudi royal family, is not a direct son or brother of the current monarch. His grandfather, Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, was one of the many sons of King Abdulaziz Al Saud, the founding monarch of modern Saudi Arabia. This lineage makes Prince Al-Waleed a great-grandson of King Abdulaziz, TOI report added. Meanwhile, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud—the current ruler—is also a son of King Abdulaziz, making him Prince Al-Waleed's great-uncle.
India Today
22-04-2025
- Health
- India Today
Saudi's 'Sleeping Prince' turns 36, remains in coma 19 years after crash in London
Saudi Arabia's Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal, often referred to as the "Sleeping Prince," turned 36 last week while still in a coma that has lasted nearly two decades. On April 18, as the Saudi royal marked his birthday, several users shared prayers and messages of hope for a recovery they still believe in, as reported by Roya News. Prince Al-Waleed has been unconscious since 2005, after suffering a brain injury in a car crash in London. advertisementAs per the report, he has remained on life support ever since, dependent on a ventilator and feeding tube. His condition has shown little change over the years. In 2019, there were brief signs of limited response; his fingers moved, and his head shifted slightly, but there has been no documented progress since. Currently, he is being treated at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, under the care of a full-time medical team. His parents, Prince Khaled bin Talal and Princess Reema bint Talal, continue to hold on to faith. While the medical world speaks in cautious tones, the prince's family has never wavered. Prince Khaled, in past statements, refused to withdraw life support, citing divine will. Princess Reema, too, has spoken of feeling her son's spirit still present. According to the report, no official statement was released by the family this year. Must Watch
