Prince Johan Friso Suffered “Very Serious Brain Damage”, Doctors Say

Nearly a week after being rescued from an avalanche while skiing in Austria, Dutch Prince Johan Friso’s condition was finally discussed by doctors at the Innsbruck University Hospital. Unfortunately, the prognosis is not good.

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Doctor Wolfgang Kolle, the head of the medical team treating the Prince, said Johan Friso suffered “very serious brain damage” and it is unknown when he will regain consciousness. If he does, it might take months or years for him to recover.

Johan Friso, the second son of Queen Beatrix, was buried under snow for just under a half hour and his heart stood still for 50 minutes, cutting off oxygen to his brain.

“Fifty minutes is very long, you could say too long,” NOS television quoted Koller as saying.

“It is clear that the oxygen starvation has caused massive brain damage to the patient,” Koller said in regards to an MRI scan of hte Prince’s brain. “At the moment, it cannot be predicted if he will ever regain consciousness.”

The Dutch royals are now looking for a rehabilitation center where the Prince can be treated.

Prince Johan Friso, age 43, is married to Princess Mabel van Oranje-Nassau. They have two daughters, Countesses Luana and Zaria, ages 6 and 5.

If anyone wants to offer their support or sympathy to the Dutch royals, you can e-mail at adhesie@dkh.nl or mail to this address:

Paleis Noordeinde
P.O. Box 30412
2500 GK Den Haag 

Sources: DutchNews, MSNBC