Dhani's nightmare : Thought dad was dead
Diana
MY FIGHT TO KEEP DAD ALIVE
EXCLUSIVE: BEATLE'S SON DHANI HARRISON'S STORY IN HIS OWN WORDS
THE DEVOTED son of Beatle George Harrison has revealed for the first time how
he held his blood-soaked father in his arms - and pleaded with him not to die.
Desperate Dhani Harrison battled to save the critically-injured rock legend
moments after he was stabbed by maniac Michael Abram.
In a horrifically vivid account of his nightmare, Dhani, 22, revealed how he
thought George had died FOUR times before reaching the ambulance.
And he told how he:
SUPPORTED his father's body as he writhed and moaned in agony.
WAS DRENCHED in George's blood as he knelt at his side.
HEARD blood and air bubbling from the stab wounds in his chest.
GAZED deep into his eyes as he slipped into unconsciousness begging over and
over: "Stay with me Dad!"
As he waited for paramedics to arrive at the secluded Oxfordshire mansion,
panic-stricken Dhani was convinced his father had died in his arms.
He said: "He was drifting, he looked even paler in the face and he was groaning
and saying, `I'm going out'.
"He made little sense and I knew he was losing consciousness. It was about 10
to 12 minutes, although it seemed like a lifetime, before the paramedics
arrived.
"When they did, I felt that my father had already passed away."
Dark-haired Dhani revealed the full horror of his ordeal after George was
attacked in December 1999 in a statement. His harrowing experience was not
revealed at Abram's trial last week.
But after the deranged former heroin addict was sent to a mental hospital,
Harrison's family asked the Sunday People to publish Dhani's words. The family,
who believe Abram should have gone to prison, want the world to know what he
put them through.
Dhani, who bears a striking resemblance to his dad, lives in a lodge on the
Harrison's 30-acre estate, Friar Park, near Henley-on-Thames, Oxon.
He was fast asleep when Abram broke into the main house and attacked George
with a knife - puncturing his lung and narrowly missing his heart.
The ex-Beatle was saved only by the bravery of his wife Olivia who struck Abram
over the head with a poker and a table lamp. Dhani said:
I was woken by Rachel, our housekeeper shouting, "Get up, get up! Something has
happened."
I have always been aware that something could happen to my parents, due to
their fame and fortune.
I am also aware of past circumstances involving other members of The Beatles.
I got dressed immediately and I remember asking, `Are my parents OK?' Rachel
said nothing."
At the front door I was aware of the pace of my own heart beating. As I went
into the main hall my mother was lying at the bottom of the stairs.
I recall one of the brass fire sets, from her bedroom, was in close proximity
to her.
I ran up to her and she said, "It's OK, it's Dhani. It's OK, honey." I noticed
her lips and mouth were very dry and I shouted at one of the police officers,
"Get her some water."
I then asked, "What happened?" She said, "Daddy is upstairs, he is badly hurt"
or something similar. She then said, "I'm OK. Go to him." I knew that what was
upstairs was much worse.
I put my hand on my mother and said repeatedly, "I love you." She replied,
"Go!" I began to run up the stairs. I cannot remember getting up the stairs. I
was carried by adrenaline.
On the landing I saw two police officers kneeling over a body and a police
officer standing.
I was not sure then if the person on the ground was the attacker being detained
or my father. I then realised it was the attacker. He looked up at me and I
looked straight into his eyes. I made direct eye contact.
I was immediately guided from him towards my father. I could see my father down
the landing just inside the bedroom door. I went up to him, entering the
bedroom and kneeling to assist him.
Due to the amount of blood, which I find hard to describe, I was immediately
covered in it. There were two pools of blood on the floor, blood on the walls
and lots of broken glass. I saw small fragments of glass on my father's face
and around the floor.
It took me some time to realise it was ruby-coloured glass and not flesh or
bones. The ruby glass was the remnants of a smashed lamp base.
My father said something like, "It's bad Dhan, it's bad. He stabbed me up a
lot."
I supported him with one hand on his back and the other on his stomach. I could
hear blood and air bubbling from his chest.
He was moaning and trying to get into a more comfortable position, which
obviously was not possible.
I rendered first aid as best I could and with a bottle of water wetted his lips
and tried to clean him up.
I used a white towel and numerous tissues. I was trying to avoid the tissues
sticking to his wounds. His head was bleeding heavily - his lips and teeth were
covered in blood.
He had multiple stab wounds to his chest and clearly other injuries which I
could not see.
He was clearly in an extremely bad way and he was in agony.
I recall the police officer saying we had got to find the knife. He started
looking around the room. He asked for my assistance and so I helped.
But after a brief look around the room I realised that I had my father there in
the room at death's door.
I had said to him that I would be two seconds but the stupidity of looking for
the knife rather than being at my father's side, had dawned on me and I
returned to him.
I honestly believed he was going to die. He was so pale. I looked into his eyes
and saw the pain. Dad kept saying, "Oh Dhan, oh Dhan."
When I gave him first aid I had opened his jacket and pyjama top to inspect the
wounds.
At one point the police officer was trying to help my father to move. I took
control of that situation. I told the police officer to leave him. I said,
"Sit still, you must stay still."'
My whole thought process was to keep my father alive. I have experience of a
collapsing lung myself.
My father was still bleeding heavily and he kept closing his eyes and drifting.
I kept flicking my fingers and saying loudly, "`Listen to my voice."
I held his hand and the police officer held the other. He kept saying, "Open
your eyes Mr Harrison."
He was now drifting, he looked even paler in the face, and was groaning and
saying, "I'm going out."
He made little sense and I knew he was losing consciousness. It seemed like a
lifetime - before the paramedics arrived.
When they did, I felt that my father had already passed away. When the
paramedics arrived, he seemed to perk up, but drifted away again and complained
of being cold.
The paramedics and I lifted him into a stretcher-type chair. He was clearly in
agony.
He lifted his head, but it made him dizzy and he said, "Dhani, I'm going, I'm
going."
His eyes were rolling. I could only see the whites of them and he said, "I love
you Dhan."
He was strapped in and covered in blankets and we manoeuvred him towards the
stairs. By this time the attacker had been removed. We got to the top of the
stairs and at that point my father looked at me.
He said, "I love you Dhan". One of his eyes rolled back independently of the
other eye.
Throughout his ordeal, my father's words were broken with coughing and
spluttering. Then he said, "Hare Krishna" and he closed his eyes.
At this point he drew a very strange, deep breath. His mouth puckered, he drew
his cheeks in and he sucked in his bottom lip.
This breath made me react immediately. I shouted, "Dad, you're with me, listen
to my voice. It is going to be OK. Stay with me.
His face was contorted and he had not taken a breath for some seconds - an
alarmingly long period. As I finished shouting he breathed out and opened his
eyes.
I have never seen another human being dead or alive - and I have seen my
grandfather in his coffin - look so bad.
My father was now back with us and I kept up the encouragement, hoping he would
stay conscious.
We were nearly halfway down the stairs when he went again. I again screamed at
him, "Dad, stay with me and listen to my voice." I vividly remember saying,
"This is the worst it gets. From now on, it's only getting better.
"I want you to focus on getting better. We have hit rock bottom, it is only
getting better." I kept repeating this so he could focus on my voice.
At the bottom of the stairs it happened again and again I repeated the process
and thankfully he came back.
My mother was still at the bottom of the stairs with a blanket wrapped around
her.
She was covered in blood and had a very nasty head wound. She was saying, "I'm
cold, I'm cold."
She said to my father, "It's OK, honey. You are going to be all right."
We got to an ambulance. The paramedics put my father inside and I was not
allowed in while they treated him. I wanted to see him, so I pulled myself on a
bumper.
Gripping with my finger nails I could see my father. I did not want to let him
out of my sight.
- - - - - -
Hari Scruffs : http://www.hariscruffs.com
nowhere man
> Sunday People (Mirror) -- Nov 19 2000
>
> MY FIGHT TO KEEP DAD ALIVE
> EXCLUSIVE: BEATLE'S SON DHANI HARRISON'S STORY IN HIS OWN WORDS
>
> THE DEVOTED son of Beatle George Harrison has revealed for the first time how
> he held his blood-soaked father in his arms - and pleaded with him not to die.
<<snipped>>
thanks for posting this Diana.....it is a very moving story. We now realise how
very serious that attack was. It got played down at the time........this account
by his son makes for very scary reading.
Will
Johnny Dupe
>
> Sunday People (Mirror) -- Nov 19 2000
>
> MY FIGHT TO KEEP DAD ALIVE
> EXCLUSIVE: BEATLE'S SON DHANI HARRISON'S STORY IN HIS OWN WORDS
<snip>
Good God!! I never realized how close George was to being murdered.
It really makes you stop and think.
-John W.
My rare Beatles tapes in mp3: http://www.egroups.com/files/johnscloset
Also check out johnscloset2, 3, and 4
HarryJester
>>
>> Sunday People (Mirror) -- Nov 19 2000
>>
>> MY FIGHT TO KEEP DAD ALIVE
>> EXCLUSIVE: BEATLE'S SON DHANI HARRISON'S STORY IN HIS OWN WORDS
Ihave been moved to tears. Thank God George is all right! Dhani's quick
thinking to keep his father conscious and not to move him probably saved him.
I can't imagine how emotionally devastated I and the world's fan would have
been if George had died. The grace of God is the greatest gift George received
that night and the greatest gift George has given us.
Bless you, George, Olivia and Dhani! This Thanksgiving we DO have much to be
thankful for!
eve plumb
<20001119163814...@nso-fx.aol.com>, amara...@aol.com stated:
>
>Sunday People (Mirror) -- Nov 19 2000
>
>MY FIGHT TO KEEP DAD ALIVE
>EXCLUSIVE: BEATLE'S SON DHANI HARRISON'S STORY IN HIS OWN WORDS
>
<snip a lot of lurid, horrible stuff>
Diana, I'm sure you're disappointed that George didn't expire. Then you could
have posted the morgue photographs.
Would you please give it a break?
This sensationalistic tabloid trash you keep posting proves that there is
Beatles-related material that is not, and should not be, on-topic for rmb.
interstate5
sam
As far as I'm concerned if it's to do with the Beatles it belongs on this
newsgroup. It's certainly a lot more on topic than all that American
election crap that's been clogging up space around here.
eve plumb <eve_m...@newsguy.com> wrote in message
news:8v9mk...@drn.newsguy.com...
> On 19 Nov 2000 21:38:14 GMT, in article
> <20001119163814...@nso-fx.aol.com>, amara...@aol.com stated:
> >
> >Sunday People (Mirror) -- Nov 19 2000
> >
> >MY FIGHT TO KEEP DAD ALIVE
> >EXCLUSIVE: BEATLE'S SON DHANI HARRISON'S STORY IN HIS OWN WORDS
> >
>
>
Kaiser Boy
could
> have posted the morgue photographs.
>
> Would you please give it a break?
>
> This sensationalistic tabloid trash you keep posting proves that there is
> Beatles-related material that is not, and should not be, on-topic for rmb.
>
> interstate5
Sorry, Interstate, but you're in left field on this one. I consider the
posting, while gruesome and upsetting, to be of value to understand what
happened to Good Brother George. Where's the peace and love?
KB
John Whelan
news:vy%R5.508$H15....@saturn.ipass.net...
Well, that one really put face on all of the victims whom
I've never met in person...really pulled on my heart-strings!
Thank you for posting this, Diana.
Regards,
John
Susan
>George didn't expire. Then you could
>have posted the morgue photographs.
What an idiotic comment, this was stupid even for you. Diana's post
didn't give any indication that she wished that George would have
*expired*. That's a horrible thing to say.
>Would you please give it a break?
Give us a break with your puritanic cyber cop crap. Being an attorney
you shouldn't find Diana's post too offensive, so deal with it.
>This sensationalistic tabloid trash you
>keep posting proves that there is
>Beatles-related material that is not, and
>should not be, on-topic for rmb.
That's your worthless opinion. Diana's post was relevant to what's
going on now with George, and it was interesting. If you don't like it,
then go back and be amused by Willz birthday thread, or enjoy Fabby's
adventures on the *big airplane* and leave Diana's posts for the
thinking people of RMB. Some of us have been following this case and
are interested in the circumstances surrounding it. Go back with the
rest of the flock before you get lost.
Oops, I had better watch what I say to Trish the teenager, young ears
and all,,,,lol yeah right.
Diana
>Diana, I'm sure you're disappointed that George didn't expire. Then you
>could have posted the morgue photographs.
Trish? Get help.
>Would you please give it a break?
No. The purpose of this forum is to share information.
There was another reason I posted these articles. They express overwhelming
love, deep caring, inner strength, loyalty and courage. My admiration for
Olivia and Dhani grows by the day. They have been tremendous inspirations.
I had hoped others would be similary moved and inspired.
If you choose to see only pain and ugliness, that's your responsibility and not
mine.
>This sensationalistic tabloid trash you keep posting proves that there is
>Beatles-related material that is not, and should not be, on-topic for rmb.
So even on-topic isn't always on-topic? LOL!
D 28IF
>> This sensationalistic tabloid trash you keep posting proves that there is
>> Beatles-related material that is not, and should not be, on-topic for rmb.
>>
>> interstate5
>
>Sorry, Interstate, but you're in left field on this one. I consider the
>posting, while gruesome and upsetting, to be of value to understand what
>happened to Good Brother George. Where's the peace and love?
>
>KB
>
Don't you understand? Trish and Francie think they know best what should and
shouldn't be discussed in this newsgroup.
larr
Nice to see love at work in such an aweful aweful situation. -larr
In article <20001119163814...@nso-fx.aol.com>,
amara...@aol.com (Diana) wrote:
> Sunday People (Mirror) -- Nov 19 2000
>
> MY FIGHT TO KEEP DAD ALIVE
> EXCLUSIVE: BEATLE'S SON DHANI HARRISON'S STORY IN HIS OWN WORDS
<snip>
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Mark Janovec
out...especially after they found the guy "not guilty"? I think they wanted
the world to know what happened that night in all it's gory detail. It was
more than a simple flesh wound. It was a deep stab wound that also left many
emotional scars on the family. George gave us so much great music (and
hopefully will for years to come), and look how the world has treated him
and John.
It's chilling to read, but it's not supposed to be pleasant. They are VERY
lucky to be alive.
Mark
eve plumb wrote in message <8v9mk...@drn.newsguy.com>...
>On 19 Nov 2000 21:38:14 GMT, in article
><20001119163814...@nso-fx.aol.com>, amara...@aol.com stated:
>>
>>Sunday People (Mirror) -- Nov 19 2000
>>
>>MY FIGHT TO KEEP DAD ALIVE
>>EXCLUSIVE: BEATLE'S SON DHANI HARRISON'S STORY IN HIS OWN WORDS
>>
>
>
><snip a lot of lurid, horrible stuff>
>
>Diana, I'm sure you're disappointed that George didn't expire. Then you
could
>have posted the morgue photographs.
>
>Would you please give it a break?
>
Diana
>Didn't the Harrison family themselves want this story to get
>out...especially after they found the guy "not guilty"? I think they wanted
>the world to know what happened that night in all it's gory detail.
Yes, they did. Thanks for giving me an opportunity to say this because it's an
important point. The articles on Dhani and Olivia were not "from a friend who
knows someone who knows George's gardener." The Harrison family is
understandably upset about the verdict, and moreso that the judge *refused* to
notify them if and when the attacker is released. The Mirror specifically
stated that the Harrisons want the world to know *their* side, what they went
through.
>It was more
>than a simple flesh wound. It was a deep stab wound that also left many
>emotional scars on the family. George gave us so much great music (and
>hopefully will for years to come), and look how the world has treated him
>and John.
>
>It's chilling to read, but it's not supposed to be pleasant. They are VERY
>lucky to be alive.
And we're lucky they're still around! Suddenly, I don't care *quite* as much
as before whether George releases a box set or new album. He's given us so
much already. And with a wife and son like Olivia and Dhani, it's easy to
understand why family life is enough for him.
"Yeah, Diana, don't trip getting down from your soapbox." ;-)
DAHLDUDE
Horrific transcript - I appreciate knowing, Di.
Thankfully George is still with us, but I bemoan his further capacity to not
just sing, but play. When I heard he had to grab the blade during the struggle,
I shuddered and thought:
What a twisted evil bargain to be confronted with: in trying to save your life,
you have to gamble any guitar playing future.
Diana
>Thankfully George is still with us, but I bemoan his further capacity to not
>just sing, but play. When I heard he had to grab the blade during the
>struggle, I shuddered and thought:
>
>What a twisted evil bargain to be confronted with: in trying to save your
>life, you have to gamble any guitar playing future.
I'll bet George wasn't even thinking of his precious hands. When this first
happened (but not right away) it came out that there were cuts on George's
hands but no nerves were damaged. During the trial, there was no mention of
*any* injury to his hands; just that he grabbed the knife, as you said. I
don't know what to make of that.
(BTW, I owe you email. Haven't been ignoring you, DD! Life has been a little
messier than usual these days.)
DAHLDUDE
little
messier than usual these days.) >>
No prob, shug (that's 'sugar' for short)--
You needn't fret any email. Here is fine.