London ? A rescuer who tried to help Diana after her Paris car crash said Thursday that the princess spoke as she lay in the wreckage, repeating the words “oh my God” over and over.

Damian Dalby told an inquest into Diana’s death that he and his brother rushed over to the wreckage of the princess’ Mercedes after it crashed in the Pont d’Alma tunnel on Aug. 31, 1997.

Dalby, who was a volunteer French firefighter at the time, told the inquest by videolink from Paris that the car was surrounded by photographers.

“The car’s rear, right-hand side door was open, and a photographer was close by, but he did not stop me from doing my assistance job,” Dalby said.

Ian Burnett, lead lawyer for the inquest, asked Dalby: “Was it right the lady in the car was trying to speak?”

“Yes, she was saying: ‘Oh my God, Oh my God,'” Dalby said.

Dalby said police arrived and moved the photographers away.

The inquest is examining the deaths of Diana and her companion, Dodi Fayed, in Paris, where the couple had been pursued by paparazzi. Witnesses have testified that photographers were among the first to reach the scene of the crash.