Princess Diana: The eerie moment a movie funeral scene set in France was interrupted by news of car crash

Broadcaster Martyn Lewis was drafted in to deliver the bulletin that triggered most profound outpouring of grief from British public in decades

In 2017, with social media turning most of the world's population into roving reporters, it's hard to imagine a news story of the magnitude of the car crash that killed Princess Diana's death reaching the public as slowly as it did and with so few details.

The BBC was the first broadcaster to announce news of the crash, airing a breaking news report in the early hours of 31 August 1997, shortly after her car collided with another vehicle in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris.

The report interrupted the scheduled broadcast of French film Borsalino, right in the middle a sombre funeral scene set in France.

The last words spoken in the film were: "May angels lead you to the heavenly gates, may the saints welcome you to paradise and guide you to the new Jerusalem, may the holy choir of angels sing you to your eternal resting place and may you find celestial joy among the sacred souls blessed by our lord. Amen."

Broadcaster Martyn Lewis had been drafted in urgently to deliver the bulletin on the event that triggered the most profound outpouring of grief from the British public in decades.

He said: "We interrupt this film to tell you that Diana Princess of Wales has been badly injured in a car crash in France.

"French radio is saying that the accident happened in western Paris when the car she was travelling in collided with another vehicle in a tunnel.

"The Princess is reported to have been taken to hospital, there is no news of her condition and as yet the report is unconfirmed.

"It is also reported that the passenger in the Princess’ car was killed. One report, quoting French police, says it was her friend Dodi Al Fayed."

Astonishingly, the film then resumed, with a Paris street scene.

The Princess' death was not announced until after 4am and details of the crash emerged gradually overnight.

The crash occurred at 00:25, killing her companion Mr Fayed instantly and causing her catastrophic injuries.

Emergency doctor Frederic Mailliez was driving through the tunnel just minutes later and stopped to alert authorities.

At 00:32 ambulances arrived on scene, but police had difficulty cordoning off the accident from paparazzi and eight were arrested on scene.

One hour later at 01:25, the Princess was taken to hospital having already suffered a heart attack.

Despite receiving adrenaline injections en route and her heart being massaged for almost two hours, the Princess was declared dead at the Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital at 4am.

Lewis delivered regular bulletins throughout the night, and was drafted in again at 6am to announce that the Princess had tragically succumbed to her injuries.

A 2008 inquest in the UK found the Princess was unlawfully killed as a result of “grossly negligent” driving by her chauffeur, Henri Paul, who lost control of the vehicle at speeds of up to 120 miles per hour.

Mr Paul, who was killed in the accident, was found to be drunk at the time of the crash and was attempting to flee pursuing paparazzi photographers.