What happened to Michael Schumacher after a skiing accident that nearly killed him?

Until Lewis Hamilton entered the motor racing scene, there was no debate as to who was the best Formula 1 driver of all time.

Ask this question and “Michael Schumacher” will answer you almost immediately, winning seven world titles during his illustrious career; a feat that Hamilton managed to equal but not beat.

The German – who once alluded to the Stig on Higher speed – enjoyed two stints in the sport, racing in the iconic red of Ferrari for most of his career before returning to Mercedes for a brief three-year stint.

After retiring from F1 for good in 2012, tragedy struck the Schumacher family when Michael suffered a traumatic injury while on vacation.

He has since not been seen in public as he recovers at home.

His family has kept details of his condition confidential, with updates extremely rare in the 11 years since the skiing incident.

What happened to Michael Schumacher?

Now aged 55, Schumacher was on holiday in 2013 when the accident changed his life forever.

Skiing in the French Alps with his son Mick, then 14, Schumacher skied an off-piste area of ​​the slope.

It was during this section that he fell and hit his head on a rock. Although he was wearing a helmet – which doctors say saved his life – he suffered serious head injuries and was airlifted to hospital.

After being put in a medically induced coma due to the head trauma he had suffered, Schumacher left hospital the following year after being slowly brought back to consciousness by doctors.

Schumacher’s life since the accident

Since the fall that saw him almost die, Schumacher has led an intense private life while being treated by his family and private doctors. Little is known about his condition, with his loved ones requesting privacy over the years.

Some statements have been made in the public domain, with Schumacher’s lawyer Felix Damm reporting in 2016 that the former F1 driver “couldn’t walk”.

Schumacher’s agent Sabine Kehm said the family had been “forced” to issue a statement denying reports the German could move again.

“Unfortunately, we are forced by a recent media report to clarify that the claim that Michael may be moving again is not true,” she said.

“Such speculation is irresponsible, because given the severity of his injuries, his privacy is very important. Unfortunately, it also gives false hope to many of those involved.”

Former Ferrari boss Jean Todt told L’Equipe that Schumacher was “wonderfully guided by his wife and children who protect him”, adding: “His life is different now and I have the privilege of sharing moments with him. that’s to say.”

Recent developments on Schumacher’s health

In October 2023, family lawyer Felix Damm told German media outlet LTO that no “final report” on Schumacher’s condition had been provided for one simple reason: privacy.

Damm said: “It was always about protecting private things. We considered whether a final report on Michael’s health might be the right way to do this.

“But that wouldn’t have been the end of it and it would have required constantly updated ‘water level reports’ and it wouldn’t have been up to the family when media interest in the story died down. “