Prince Friso of the Netherlands has passed away at age 44, a news report announces today, August 12th.
Friso reportedly died of complications that occurred following his brain damage caused by an oxygen deficiency because of his skiing accident on February 17th 2012 in Lech, Austria.
The following report was released:
"After treatment on the intensive care of the Landeskrankenhaus in Innsbruck, the Prince was transferred to the Wellington hospital in his hometown London. Ever since September 2012 Prince Friso showed signs of minimal consciousness. In the beginning of July 2013 he was transferred to his palace in the Netherlands."
"The royal family would like to thank everyone who has taken care of Prince Friso in the past year for their dedication and hard work."
"After treatment on the intensive care of the Landeskrankenhaus in Innsbruck, the Prince was transferred to the Wellington hospital in his hometown London. Ever since September 2012 Prince Friso showed signs of minimal consciousness. In the beginning of July 2013 he was transferred to his palace in the Netherlands."
"The royal family would like to thank everyone who has taken care of Prince Friso in the past year for their dedication and hard work."
Dutch Prince Friso dies after year in coma
Prince Friso's wife Princess Mabel spent her birthday at his bedside on Sunday, Dutch media said
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Dutch Prince Johan Friso has died after a year and a half in a coma following an accident at an Austrian ski resort, officials say.
Prince Friso, who was 44, was moved from hospital in London back to the Netherlands last month, but had since suffered complications.
He was hit by an avalanche in February 2012 and buried for 15 minutes.
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima are said to be on their way home from a holiday in Greece.
"Prince Friso has died of complications related to the hypoxic brain injury, which he suffered as the result of his skiing accident in Lech, Austria on 17 February 2012," a royal palace statement said.
He died on Monday morning in The Hague, the palace added.
The prince's wife, Princess Mabel, is said to have spent her 45th birthday on Sunday at his bedside.
'Massive' brain damage
Shortly before becoming king, his elder brother, Willem-Alexander spoke in April of the "terrible situation" the family had lived with for more than a year.
Prince Friso's wife and Queen Beatrix were doing their best to be there for him every day "to give him a chance", he said.
The prince had been skiing off-piste with friends in Lech when the avalanche struck.
An emergency beeper he was wearing enabled rescuers to find him but medical officials in Innsbruck said it took some time to revive him and he suffered "massive" brain damage. They said he had suffered a heart attack lasting some 50 minutes.
He was later flown to London for treatment at the private Wellington Hospital, which has a specialist neurological unit.
He was eventually discharged in July 2013 but remained in a "state of minimal consciousness".
At the time, officials said he would spend the summer with his family at the royal palace in The Hague, with medical treatment provided by a specialist team.