"With a heart trusting in God's fate, we announce the passing of our beloved son, Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal, after 20 years in a coma," Prince Khaled bin Talal wrote on social media.

In 2005, 15-year-old Prince Al-Waleed bin Khalid bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud suffered a severe brain injury in a car accident while attending military school in the UK. He fell into a deep coma.

Doctors initially gave him only 20 hours to live, but his journey spanned two decades.

Prince Khaled by his comatose son's side. Photo: X/Khaled bin Talal

Prince Khaled by his comatose son's side. Photo: X/Khaled bin Talal

Prince Al-Waleed received treatment at the King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh. Though doctors advised discontinuing life support, Prince Khaled refused, believing that only God determines life and death.

For 20 years, Prince Khaled remained by his son's bedside. He employed a specialized medical team, read the Quran daily, talked to his son, and held onto hope. As long as his son was breathing, there was hope.

During holy Islamic occasions, from the last night of Ramadan to Eid al-Adha, Prince Khaled prayed for his son. These prayers were not just personal rituals but also a call for the community to join him.

He decorated his son's room for major holidays like Ramadan, Eid, and National Day, softening the sterile hospital environment.

Though Prince Al-Waleed never regained consciousness, he occasionally exhibited small reflexes like twitching fingers, blinking, or lifting his head. Videos of these moments circulated on social media, earning him the nickname "the sleeping prince".

"No one can predict miracles. We never gave up on our son," Prince Khaled said in a 2016 interview.

Prince Khaled's devotion and faith created a symbol of human resilience. While modern medicine might suggest withdrawing life support, he chose a different path: one of love and unwavering belief.

Prince Al-Waleed's death concludes a silent 20-year chapter, but it also tells a story of paternal love, faith, and perseverance that transcends medical expectations.

His funeral took place on 20/7/2025 at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh, attended by numerous royals and citizens. The family received condolences at their residence for three days.

Nhat Minh (Times of India/Gulf News/People)