In the face of death， all beings are equal. Even a “filthy rich” Saudi prince ultimately succumbs to fate.
On July 19， 2025， Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled of the Saudi royal family passed away at the age of 36， after being in a coma for 20 years. He was known by the media as the “Sleeping Prince.”
Born with a silver spoon in his mouth， the prince hailed from a distinguished lineage. His uncle was the current king， and his father and uncles were both princes and billionaires. He was the embodiment of the enviable prince often depicted in novels.
However， his fortune was short-lived. In 2005， while studying in London， he suffered a severe car accident that resulted in a head injury and subsequent coma. He was only 15 years old at the time.
From that point onwards， he required a ventilator to sustain his life， a piece of equipment he relied on for two decades.
Over the past 20 years， doctors repeatedly advised the family to discontinue treatment. However， his father remained steadfast in his refusal.
His father held onto the belief that his son would one day awaken. He would sit by his bedside daily， talk to him， and ensure he received the most professional medical team， the best equipment， and the most advanced rehabilitation methods in an effort to rouse him.
Reports indicate that Prince Al-Waleed’s annual rehabilitation costs amounted to millions of dollars， underscoring the family’s determination to keep him alive at any cost.
Tragically， a miracle did not materialize in the end.
The prince’s death has immensely impacted his family， particularly the profound grief that follows dashed hopes.
Under his father’s meticulous care， Prince Al-Waleed had shown signs of recovery.
According to publicized videos， in 2019， he would respond to greetings by moving his fingers and occasionally lift his hand or foot. This indicated a reaction to external stimuli， which brought immense joy to his family， who believed their years of dedication were finally bearing fruit.
However， the pace of his recovery was ultimately outpaced by the deterioration of his body due to prolonged unconsciousness， and the prince eventually passed away.
Real-life Case: Emirati Woman Wakes After 27 Years in Coma
Instances of individuals awakening after prolonged comas do exist in reality.
Munira Abdulla， a woman from the UAE， had a similar experience. She also suffered a severe brain injury leading to a coma following a car accident. The incident occurred in 1991， and she awoke in 2018， having been in a dormant state for 27 years.
When the accident happened， she was in the back seat with her son. To protect him， she held him tightly in her arms， resulting in her son being unharmed. She was diagnosed as being in a vegetative state upon arrival at the hospital， meaning she lacked consciousness but could feel pain.
Similar to the prince’s case， she was kept alive through medical tubes. Throughout this time， she underwent rehabilitation， including physical therapy to prevent muscle atrophy and was administered various medications to stimulate consciousness.
One day， her son was involved in an argument in her hospital room. The sleeping mother suddenly emitted strange sounds， startling her son， who immediately alerted the doctors for examination. Three days later， the woman was able to call out her son’s name.
Her son， Omar， attributed this miraculous occurrence to “a mother’s love for her son.”
He explained， “During the argument， she heard it and thought I was in danger， so she woke up.”
However， doctors described Munira’s recovery as a “miracle，” considering her case of awakening after many years in a coma to be exceptionally rare， deeming her a fortunate recipient of divine favor.
Conclusion
The passing of the prince has caused considerable reflection. On one hand， there is a sense of regret and mourning. On the other， people are contemplating the ethical question: Is it appropriate to maintain life with a ventilator for 20 years?
Given the slim chances of waking up after so many years of unconsciousness， many believe it would have been more humane to allow for an earlier release from suffering， rather than enduring a life devoid of quality or dignity.
However， making such a decision is incredibly difficult for families. As long as there is life， there is hope. They are less concerned with the “should” and more with their own capacity to bear the emotional burden.
As a Saudi prince， the resources were available to absorb any potential consequences. For ordinary individuals， however， compromise often becomes the inevitable path.
The sustained medical care and unwavering dedication required for long-term unconsciousness are not only a significant financial strain but also an immense emotional and psychological ordeal. Those lacking profound resilience can easily be overwhelmed and are ultimately forced to relinquish their hopes.
