PHUKET, THAILAND – German socialite Prinz Frédéric von Anhalt was injured in a traffic accident while filming a reality show and was treated in a local hospital.
Accident during reality show filming
The 82-year-old was in Thailand for the recording of RTLZWEI’s “Kampf der RealityAllstars” when the accident occurred on Phuket in the morning local time. According to initial information, the car involved was unable to stop in time and hit the prince, who was then taken to a nearby hospital for medical care.
Prince describes rapid sequence of events
Von Anhalt described how quickly the incident unfolded.
“It all happened in a flash,”
said Prinz Frédéric von Anhalt, who added that he had seen the vehicle coming and tried to get out of its way.
“A car drove toward me and hit me. I still tried to dodge the vehicle as best I could, but it was too late,”
said the 82-year-old.
Emergency services were called immediately after the collision.
“The ambulance took me straight to the hospital,”
reported von Anhalt. According to him, the Thai police had already identified the driver of the car involved.
“Now I hope that everything will be clarified soon,”
said the prince about the ongoing investigation.
Head and leg wounds surgically treated
At the hospital, doctors examined and treated his injuries. Von Anhalt suffered wounds to his head and leg that required surgical care.
“I have open wounds on my head and on my leg that had to be stitched up immediately,”
explained the patient.
Despite his injuries, he expressed relief about the outcome.
“It was an enormous piece of luck that nothing worse happened and that I am still alive,”
he said. Discharge from hospital was not expected in the short term.
“I may have to stay here longer until I am reasonably fit again. The stitches can only be removed in a week at the earliest,”
said the 82-year-old about the expected course of recovery.
Second serious health incident within a year
For von Anhalt, this was already the second serious health incident within about twelve months. Around a year earlier, he had to spend several days in hospital due to severe pneumonia, after which he rebuilt his physical fitness through training and sports.
“My need for hospitals is definitely more than covered,”
commented von Anhalt on his current situation.
Travel plans postponed, new goal for Carnival
The accident also affected his private plans, forcing him to postpone a planned winter holiday in Switzerland.
“I actually wanted to go skiing in Switzerland in the next few weeks. I can forget about that now, of course,”
said von Anhalt. Instead, he set himself a new objective.
“By Carnival I want to be completely fit again and celebrate in Cologne. That is my big goal,”
he explained.
End of participation in TV production
Von Anhalt would not be able to return to the set of “Kampf der RealityAllstars,” bringing his participation in the show to an early end. At 82, he had been the oldest contestant in the production, which was scheduled to be broadcast in the spring.
It was not his first appearance in the format: in 2021, at the age of 77, he took part in three episodes of “Kampf der Realitystars.” The current stint in Thailand ended prematurely because of the accident and the necessary medical treatment.
Authorities investigate accident circumstances
Thai authorities were investigating the circumstances of the traffic accident. The prince had so far not commented on potential legal action or claims for damages, with priority given to his full recovery and return to Germany.
The production company behind the reality show had not yet made any public statement about the incident. It also remained unclear whether and how the accident would be addressed in the broadcast, while von Anhalt’s hospital stay in Thailand meant an unexpected and difficult extension of his time abroad.