Michael Schumacher health mystery deepens as close pal issues bold statement

Ferrari fable Michael Schumacher has been fiercely guarded by his loving household since his tragic skiing accident.

The Formula One champ, 55, has not been seen successful nationalist successful much than a decennary aft a devastating incidental near him with a catastrophic encephalon wounded and changed everything. His loved ones person closed ranks astir him with his dedicated woman Corinna Schumacher exercising utmost caution with visitors.

But the ringing of alloy astir the prima appeared to person relaxed slightly, pursuing reports that helium attended the wedding of his girl Gina-Maria and her hubby Iain Bethke earlier this year. The 27-year-old equestrian star, who has followed successful her dad's sporty footsteps, tied the knot astatine the family's £27million Majorcan villa connected September 28.

Reports from Germany claimed that Schumacher was contiguous astatine the ceremony, but strict rules remained. Wedding guests were allegedly asked to permission their phones astatine the doorway truthful that Michael wouldn't beryllium photographed.

But present those reports person been plunged into uncertainty by the seven-time world champion's adjacent friend. Ex-Formula 1 prima and Le Mans victor Johnny Herbert unopen down the claims and labelled the suggestions arsenic 'fake news'. He told Flashscore: "It volition ever beryllium a closed shop. The astir caller rumour was helium attended his daughter's wedding. Unfortunately, from what I recognize that was each A1 fake quality and nary information successful it."

Neurosurgeon Jussi Posti antecedently called retired the claims arsenic highly unlikely, owed to the information Schumacher is said to beryllium in. The rumoured information of the sportsman would airs large trouble for his attendance, Posti notes, though Schumacher has antecedently been flown from the family's location to their Majorcan villa.

"If a infirmary has been built successful his house, with everything medicalised astir him, it seems that helium has been successful infirmary astir of the time," Posti told Iltalehti. "Based connected the accusation available, I don't deliberation helium leads a precise progressive life. Everything points to him being unwell. As bedridden patients, astir radical go truthful frail and stiff that it is nary longer imaginable to get them retired of furniture aft truthful galore years."

In 2013, the Schumachers' lives changed everlastingly erstwhile Michael crashed portion skiing successful the French Alps, striking his caput against a rock. His helmet took astir of the impact, but his encephalon wounded was inactive severe, and aft undergoing 2 life-saving operations, the sporting fable spent months successful a medically induced coma. Right from the opening of the ordeal, Michael's household did their champion to support the details of his information retired of the nationalist eye, though a fewer updates were given.

In the contiguous aftermath, it was confirmed that Michael was warring for his beingness and successful captious condition. Another connection wasn't released until April 2014, erstwhile the household shared that Michael had shown 'moments of consciousness and awakening'. The pursuing summer, it was confirmed that Michael was retired of the coma and had been moved to a rehabilitation facility.

By September 2014, Michael had been brought backmost to his household location connected Lake Geneva successful September 2014, wherever helium was cared for astir the timepiece by Corinna and a squad of medics. Having dedicated herself to guarding her husband's dignity, Corinna has permitted lone a prime fewer trusted friends and relatives to sojourn him, nether strict protocols. Meanwhile, it's understood lone a fistful of radical cognize the details of Michael's information and care, which stay shrouded successful mystery.

Late successful 2014, fans gained a uncommon penetration into Michael's information aft chap erstwhile racing operator and adjacent person Philippe Streiff revealed that Michael was paralysed and utilized a wheelchair. Philippe, who besides uses a wheelchair aft a racing accident, shared: "He is getting amended but everything is relative. It's precise difficult. He can't speak. Like me, helium is successful a wheelchair paralysed. He has representation problems and code problems."

Meanwhile, ex-Ferrari brag Jean Todt antecedently spoke of Corinna's unthinkable determination successful caring for her beloved hubby but said that his miraculous endurance had 'consequences'. He told Bild: "I've spent a batch of clip with Corinna since Michael had his superior skiing mishap connected December 29, 2013. She is simply a large pistillate and runs the family. She hadn't expected that. It happened abruptly and she had nary choice. But she does it precise well. I spot her, she trusts me. Thanks to the enactment of his doctors and the practice of Corinna, who wanted him to survive, helium survived - but with consequences."

In September 2020, it was reported that Michael had been spending much clip successful Majorca, wherever Gina's wedding took place. And much devastating details emerged astir the world of his condition. At the time, Elisabetta Gregoraci, the ex-wife of erstwhile F1 squad brag Flavio Briarote, told Spanish press: "Michael doesn't speak, helium communicates with his eyes. Only 3 radical tin sojourn him and I cognize who they are." In further comments made connected the Italian mentation of Big Brother, Elisabetta claimed: "They moved to Spain and his woman has acceptable up a infirmary successful that house."

In the 2021 Netflix documentary SCHUMACHER, Corinna emphasised the value of protecting her husband's privacy, stating: "We're trying to transportation connected arsenic a family, the mode Michael liked it and inactive does. And we are getting connected with our lives. It's precise important to maine that helium tin proceed to bask his backstage beingness arsenic overmuch arsenic possible. Michael ever protected us, and present we are protecting Michael."

Sadly, this vow came nether menace implicit the summer, erstwhile it emerged that the household were blackmailed by a begetter and lad threatening to merchandise delicate images of the F1 fable successful the aftermath of the crash, successful a sick effort to extort millions of pounds retired of the Schumachers.

Despite the heartbreaking difficulties they've endured, the household person stayed resilient, sharing saccharine tributes to Michael, and remembering joyful memories. Back successful January, Michael's children Mick and Gina took to societal media to people their dad's day with puerility photographs. Mick wrote: "Happy day to the champion dada ever. Love you. Captioning her ain nostalgic post, Gina said: "Happy Birthday Papa! Throwback to 1 of galore of our adventures."

Unfortunately, contempt this brave display, it's said that immoderate household connections person go strained. In November past year, Michael's younger member Ralf spoke of his heartache astatine losing interaction with Corinna and Michael successful the aftermath of the horrific accident.

Speaking with German mag Bunte, Ralf, who besides enjoyed an awesome racing career, shared: "When I spot his children Gina-Maria and Mick, my bosom smiles. If idiosyncratic successful the household is looking for my advice, I'm there. They spell their ain way."

He continued: "I miss the Michael of the aged days. Life is unfair from clip to time. Michael was precise fortunate passim his life. But past determination was this tragic accident. Michael wasn't lone my brother. When we were kids, helium was besides my manager and mentor. He taught maine virtually everything astir kart racing."

However, Ralph, 49, was successful attendance astatine his niece's wedding contempt being antecedently estranged. Ralf came retired arsenic cheery backmost successful July, astir 10 years connected from his 2015 divorcement from erstwhile Playboy exemplary Cora. There person been rumours that the Schumachers harboured concerns astir Cora's 'potential to beryllium indiscreet', but they reportedly 'have nary concerns' astir Ralf and caller spouse Etienne, who some received invites.