12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
20 years in a coma: Did Saudi's 'sleeping prince' finally open his eyes, Here is the truth behind the viral video
Credit: X
A video circulating widely on social media platforms has reignited curiosity among thousands of social media users. This video claims to be of Saudi Arabia's 'sleeping prince', who has allegedly woken up after 20 years in a coma.
However, multiple Indian media outlets have fact-checked the claim in this viral video, debunking the myth that the man in this video is NOT the prince but someone else entirely.
Let us get into the nitty-gritty of this viral claim.
Who is the so-called 'sleeping prince'?
The sleeping prince here is referred to as Prince Al-Waleed bin Khalid bin Talal Al Saud, a member of Saudi Arabia's royal family, who slipped into a deep coma back in the year 2005, following a traumatic car accident while studying at a military college.
Despite minimal brain activity and being declared in a vegetative state, his family has insisted on keeping him on life support in the hope that one day a miracle will strike and wake their precious son.
DNA fact-check confirmed that 'The viral claim that Saudi Arabia's 'Sleeping Prince' woke up from a 20-year coma is false; the video shows rally driver Yazeed Mohamed Al-Rajhi.'
The viral video shows that a man is lying on a hospital bed, slowly opening his eyes and appearing to respond to family members who are gathered around his hospital bed.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn
IC Markets
Đăng ký
Undo
This footage, although emotional, was completely false. Upon closer verification and confirmation, leading news media outlets have confirmed that the man in the video is not Prince Al-Waleed.
credit: X
But who is the man in the video?
As first stated by NDTV, clarifying that 'A viral video claiming that Prince Al‑Waleed woke up is false; it features another person, Yazeed Mohamed Al‑Rajhi.'
The man in this viral video is identified as Yazeed Mohammed Al-Rajhi, a well-established Saudi rally driver and businessman.
And has no connection to the medical condition of Prince Al-Waleed; his presence in this viral video clip appears to be a case of misidentification. This confusion has arisen due to the physical similarities between the two, but the context and background appear to be opposite from each other.
As mentioned by NDTV in its report, 'Prince Al-Waleed bin Khalid Al-Saud has been in a coma since 2005 following a serious car accident while studying at a military college.
Despite medical advice in 2015 to withdraw life support, his father, Prince Khalid bin Talal, chose to continue treatment in the hope of a miracle. The report further states that while occasional videos showing minor reflexive movements have surfaced over the years, including one in 2019, there has been no verified sign of recovery.
NDTV clarified that the man in the recent viral video is not the prince but Saudi billionaire and rally driver Yazeed Mohamed Al-Rajhi, who had been injured in a motorsport accident and is recovering.'
The importance of verifying and debunking the viral content
In the age of social media and hasty claims, a bigger issue persists of verifying facts from established sources. If not done before, it will lead to issues such as fake or paid news. In the case of this viral video, however, the 'Sleeping Prince' remains in a coma, under long-term care, with no credible evidence of awakening. As the situation continues to evoke empathy worldwide, trusted journalism remains essential in separating hope from hype.
