Press 'held back' at Diana scene

The car carrying Diana was being pursued by photographers

The first policeman at the scene of the crash that killed Princess Diana held back a pack of "vicious" paparazzi, the inquest into her death has heard.

French patrolman Sebastien Dorzee stopped at the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris after he was flagged down.

In statements read to the court, Mr Dorzee described how the paparazzi fought each other and insulted him.

Princess Diana's companion Dodi Al Fayed, and their driver Henri Paul also died as a result of the crash in 1997.

'Agitated'

Bodyguard Trevor Rees, then known as Trevor Rees Jones, was very badly injured but survived, the jury heard.

Mr Dorzee's evidence was presented to the jury at London's High Court as a series of statements made to police and French magistrates, but read on his behalf.

He described the paparazzi as "vicious and repellent", and claimed that he heard one say to another "it's your fault", the jury was told.

Mr Dorzee said that when he arrived at the crash, he recognised Princess Diana immediately.

A few seconds later she looked at me. Then she put her head down again and closed her eyes Sebastien Dorzee

He said: "She moved, her eyes were open, speaking to me in a foreign language. I think that she said, 'My god,' on seeing her boyfriend dying."

"She turned her head towards the front of the car, saw the driver and then I think she had an even better realisation of what was happening. She became agitated.

"A few seconds later she looked at me. Then she put her head down again and closed her eyes."

Mr Dorzee tried to take her pulse below her chin, and speak to her in English to comfort her, the jury was told.

He said: "I maintained this position, all the while trying to get the photographers, who were going at one another and insulting me, out of the way."