A desperate battle to save the life of a dying princess was revealed this week in court.

Attempts to save the dying Diana, Princess of Wales's life were only finally abandoned by medical staff in Paris because of severe internal bleeding.

The jury at the late princess’ inquest heard yesterday of the dramatic moment doctors took the decision to give up the battle.

Anaesthetist Daniel Eyraud said medics agreed "by common consent" to abandon attempts to restart the Princess`s heart after prolonged surgery to stem internal bleeding.

The London court was told how staff at the Paris Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital carried out cardiac massage constantly as surgeons attempted to clamp a ruptured blood vessel next to Diana's heart.

But after repeated electric shocks also failed to revive the Princess, medical staff accepted that the battle to save her life had been lost.

He said in a statement read to the jury: "We decided by common consent to stop heart massage as it was completely impossible to restore cardiac activity after such a long period of arrest.

"From that point, the Princess was pronounced dead."

He said he could not recall the exact time when the decision was taken but said staff had treated her for "a few hours".

The jury have already been told that Diana went into cardiac arrest at around 2.10am and was finally pronounced dead at 4am.

(BMcC)