Dutch officials announced on the 12th that Prince Johan Friso of the Netherlands, who was injured in an avalanche while skiing in Austria last year and fell into a vegetative state, has passed away at the age of 44.
According to French media reports, in February last year, Friso was skiing in the western Austrian town of Lech when he was caught in an avalanche and suffered a head injury, after which he remained unconscious. When rescued, he was already in shock and was sent to London, UK, for treatment. The government bulletin stated that Friso was buried in the avalanche and suffered brain damage due to lack of oxygen, which led to complications.
After more than a year of treatment, Friso’s condition did not improve, and the Dutch royal family recently had him leave the hospital in London to return to the Netherlands for long-term recuperation. On the 12th, Friso passed away at Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague.
Friso was the second son of the late Dutch Queen Beatrix and the younger brother of the current King Willem-Alexander. After falling in love with his wife Mabel in 2002, Friso chose not to publicly disclose Mabel’s personal relationship with a major drug lord during her university years.
When the media exposed the information, the Dutch government deemed the couple had withheld details and refused to submit the marriage for parliamentary approval. To marry the woman he loved, Friso gave up his right to the throne.