Camilla’s Brother Dies After Falling and Hitting Head in NYC

Camilla’s Brother Dies in Tragic Fall Resulting in Head Injury

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla are reeling after learning that her brother, Mark Shand, died after falling and hitting his head at a hotel.  Medical examiners will determine the exact cause of death, but the details of the incident heavily suggest a traumatic head injury.  Shand, who was chairman of an elephant conservatory, was in New York City at the time of his death for a Sotheby’s charity auction.

Camilla and Prince Devastated by Details of Incident at Hotel

On the evening of April 23 at approximately 1 a.m., Shand and a friend went to the Rose Bar in the Gramercy Park Hotel.  At about 2:30 a.m., he went outside to smoke a cigarette and apparently fell backwards and hit his head when attempting to re-enter the hotel through a revolving door.  He was taken to Bellevue Hospital but was pronounced dead at 11:25 a.m. this morning.  Camilla and Prince Charles are said to be “utterly devastated” by Shand’s death.  He is described as a “tireless campaigner” and “conservationist” and was the author of several conservation books, including “Elephant Tales” and “River Dog: A Journey Down the Brahmaputra”.

Head Injuries: What You Should Know

Shand’s untimely death emphasizes the importance of knowing the ins and outs of head injuries.  While it isn’t always possible to prevent serious and life-altering injuries from occurring following a blow to the head, it is important to get medical attention as soon as possible.  A head injury can be either opened or closed and involves any trauma to the scalp, skull or brain.  They are commonly caused by falls, traffic accidents, physical assaults, or accidents at work, home, outdoors or while playing sports.  Sometimes symptoms develop quickly, while other times they may gradually develop over time.  The skull may even look fine upon inspection, but the brain can still swell or bleed inside.  Signs of brain injuries include sleepiness, abnormal behavior, pupils of unequal sizes, loss of consciousness (even for a brief amount of time), severe headache or stiff neck, inability to move an arm or leg, and vomiting more than once.  It is important to call 911 right away in the case of a more severe head injury, and to keep an eye on those with minor head injuries while at home.