Helen Holland, an 81-year-old woman who was hit by a police motorcycle escorting Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, has died from her injuries, her family says.
Holland’s family released a statement saying she fought “for her life for nearly two weeks… but irreversible damage to her brain finally ended the battle,” the BBC reported Wednesday. Holland had been visiting her sister in London when a police motorcycle struck her in the Earl’s Court district May 10. She was allegedly in a coma after the crash, and remained in critical condition as of Friday, according to the outlet.
It’s heartbreaking to hear that the woman who was involved in the crash while the Duchess of Edinburgh was being escorted has died Helen Holland passed away after a two week battle RIP Helen Holland 😢😢😢😢 I’m sure the Duchess will be devastated #DuchessofEdinburgh pic.twitter.com/BqhKXxOKDg
— Lee Hood (@Mofoman360) May 24, 2023
Holland’s son, Martin Holland, confirmed her death, the BBC reported. He said his mother passed away after “suffering multiple broken bones and massive internal injuries.” Holland had four children of her own, as well as 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, according to the New York Post.
The duchess was “deeply saddened” and offered her “deepest condolences” to Holland’s family, Buckingham Palace said. She will be reaching out to the family privately, according to the BBC.
The police watchdog is investigating the collision. The “tragic outcome is being felt by colleagues across the Met,” Chief Supt Richard Smith, head of the Metropolitan Police’s Royalty and Specialist Protection Unit, told the BBC.
He noted their “thoughts are very much with the woman’s family and loved ones.”
Very sad news: Helen Holland aged 81 , who was hit by a police motorcycle escorting the Duchess of Edinburgh has died. Her family said ,”she fought for her life for nearly two weeks… but irreversible damage to her brain finally ended the battle today”.
— Mark Williams-Thomas (@mwilliamsthomas) May 24, 2023
“Officers know that their actions, both on and off duty, are open to scrutiny and following our referral of the incident, the IOPC [Independent Office for Police Conduct] launched an independent investigation – we continue to co-operate with and support that inquiry,” he added, according to the BBC. (RELATED: Former Bassist For ‘The Beatles’ Dies Age 81)
The IOPC investigates highly “serious and sensitive” incidents involving police officers in Britain. The agency said its inquiry into the tragedy is “at an early stage,” the BBC reported. They previously urged anyone who may have video footage of the incident to contact them.