Prince Friso still in a critical condition, new statement later today
Prince Friso, the second son of queen Beatrix who was caught in an avalanche while skiing in Austria on Friday, remains in a critical condition in hospital on Sunday.
The prince has now spent two nights in intensive care at a hospital in Innsbruck, where doctors have imposed a limit on visitor numbers.
A further statement on the prince’s health is expected later on Sunday, Nos television reports. The Telegraaf said the atmosphere in Innsbruck is ‘grim’.
Skiing
On Sunday, most of the royal family went skiing, the Telegraaf reported. Crown prince Willem-Alexander and princess Maxima, and younger brother Constantijn took both their own and Friso’s children out.
The queen, Friso’s wife Mabel and Constantijn’s wife Laurentien, remained at their hotel in Lech. They are expected to return to the hospital later today.
Off piste
The prince, who was skiing off piste with one companion, spent at least 15 minutes under the snow, after a 30-metre wide avalanche swept him down the hillside.
Michael Manhart, responsible for security on many of the Lech pistes, told Austrian news agency APA the slope where the prince was hit was dangerous. However, the prince knew what he was doing and it would be wrong to blame anyone else, Manhart said.
‘Everyone who skis off piste must take responsibility for his own actions,’ Manhart said.
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