The Hague, Netherlands – The Dutch royal house announced today that Prince Johan Friso has died at the Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague of complications arising from a hypoxic brain injury sustained in a ski accident in 2012 in Lech, Austria. He was 44.

Friso, the middle son of Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands,  was skiing off-piste with a single companion and without a guide on February 17, 2012 when he was buried in an avalanche. He was found unconscious after 20 minutes of searching the avalanche debris.

“Following initial treatment at the Intensive Care Unit of the Innsbruck University Hospital, Prince Friso was transferred in early March 2012 to the Wellington Hospital in London, his place of residence,” the royal family’s statement explained. “In November 2012, Prince Friso (began) showing signs of limited awareness and remained in that state since then. In early July 2013, he was transferred to Palace Huis ten Bosch in The Hague, the Netherlands,” where he died this morning.

“The Royal family wholeheartedly thanks all persons who have looked after Prince Friso for their excellent and devoted care,” the official statement concluded.

Friso had already given up his right to the Dutch throne more than a decade ago when he married a commoner whom the press revealed had a relationship with mobster Klaas Bruinsma.