'Diana, 7 Days' will be broadcast on 27th August on BBC One. Credit: BBC
A witness who was at the scene of Prince Diana's fatal crash has broken his silence after 20 years, raising questions if it was a "genuine accident".
Retired lawyer Stanlee Culbreath, 69, says Diana's chances of survival were greatly reduced by a long delay in emergency services arriving at the scene.
In an interview with The Mirror, Culbreath revealed he questioned the ability of the French emergency services and believes "other forces were involved" in her death.
"I always thought it was suspicious, that other forces played a hand, but now, 20 years on, I question more than ever whether it was a genuine accident. I just think it is dubious.
"If that's the Princess, why did it take 20 minutes or so to get to her and, when she was finally released [from the car], why did they pass one hospital and take her to another?"
Culbreath was on holiday in France when he, two friends and a taxi driver pulled into Pont de l'Alma tunnel where they were confronted with the wreckage of Diana's car.
At the time he was unaware Diana was a victim but commented to a friend saying "Damn, a junkie on Main Street would get waited on quicker than this".
Investigators at the scene look at the wreckage after the tragic crash that killed Princess Diana. Photo / Getty
The retired lawyer remembers seeing bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones' legs hanging out the car while holding a towel to his bleeding nose.
In the back seat Diana's lover Dodi Fayed was already dead, while Diana lay there injured, but talking, according to the witness.
Culbreath told The Mirror emergency services took an age to arrive while police didn't appear to act with any urgency.
"After 15 or 20 minutes, there was still no paramedic on the scene... There was only one cop there I could see who told us to get back. He kept saying, 'Get away, get away'.
"As the window's in the rear were dark, I could not see who was the in the back. I was pleading with the officer to open the door... it looked like it could be pulled open. He wasn't doing sh*t. He wasn't doing anything.
"It was as if those there had decided nothing could be done. It's just my opinion, but it took them a long time to get her out.
Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed pictured in the backseat of the car shortly before the fatal crash in 1997. Photo / Getty
"It could have been up to 30 minutes before help came. We were there for at least 15 minutes. Why wasn't an ambulance there quicker?"
When the 69-year-old left the scene an ambulance still hadn't arrived.
He remains skeptical about the recovery of Diana believing her car door could have been opened and rescued, giving her a higher chance of surviving.
During a 2008 inquiry, it was determined that the crash was caused by driver Henri Paul travelling at 65mph. He was three times over the legal blood alcohol limit.
It also emerged that it took an hour and six minutes from the time Diana was taken from the wrecked car until she reached the hospital.
Culbreath, who was not called at the inquest, but provided a statement, said he didn't give an interview until now to protect Diana's children.
His testimony comes just days after Brit bodyguard Alan McGregor, 68, said a mystery bellboy was allowed to drive her car minutes before her fatal crash 20 years ago.
He also believes an alleged plot to kill her could have been six months in the making.
