Michael Schumacher suffered his accident in 2013 (Image: Photo by Hoch Zwei/Getty Images)
It’s been just over 12 years since Michael Schumacher suffered a life-altering accident whilst skiing. The Formula One icon was placed into a medically-induced coma following the incident, which took place in the French Alps in 2013.
Since being brought out of the coma, he has required around-the-clock medical supervision with up to 15 people looking after him, according to reports. Details about Schumacher’s condition have been extremely limited and the family have maintained their silence and privacy since the accident.
A Daily Mail report recently suggested that Schumacher is no longer confined to bed and is moved around his home in a wheelchair with care that costs “tens of thousands of pounds per week”.
Now, former team-mate Riccardo Patrese, who raced alongside Schumacher for Benetton, has discussed a telephone conversation he had with the F1 icon’s wife, Corinna, and an offer he extended to her in a bid to assist with his former team-mate’s situation.
“We were very good friends. And then it was Christmas time,” said Patrese in an interview with Hochgepokert, referring to the time of the incident. “I heard about the accident. Nobody knew how bad it was. So, I sent a message on his telephone, ‘Everything okay, Michael?’ Unfortunately, there was no answer.
Schumacher’s accident completely altered his life (Image: Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
“I knew at once the problem was big and so in that moment everything changed and that was the last contact I made with him. I did offer to help to see if it would help if I went to see him. I tried, yes, if they wanted me to help, I could be there.
“But they preferred to stay alone. I saw Corinna at Goodwood in 2019 when they held the celebration of Michael’s career. We were celebrating his career because the Duke wanted to have this tribute to Michael. It was a great event, but I didn’t ask her how Michael was.
“From the time of the accident, I said to Corinna, ‘Do you want me to come and maybe try to talk and see if he can wake up and so on?’ And she said to me, ‘Don’t worry, Riccardo.'”.
Stay up-to-date with the latest F1 news Join us on WhatsApp
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Schumacher with his wife Corinna (Image: Photo credit should read STR/AFP via Getty Images)
“I understood that they didn’t like to have anybody around apart from a few trusted people like Jean Todt and Luca Badoer as well, because he was a very close friend to Michael in the time that he was testing for Ferrari when they were a winning team. Apart from these people I think nobody could have come closer to Michael. We had good times together till the last moment.”
When Schumacher’s accident occurred, the F1 icon had retired just the year before and was on holiday with wife Corinna, son Mick and daughter Gina in Meribel, France.
Schumacher was skiing in one of the ‘off-piste’ sections when he struck a rock and tumbled. This caused him to strike his head on another rock 10 metres away.
Schumacher is an F1 legend (Image: Getty)
The collision split his helmet clean in half and whilst he remained conscious initially, he couldn’t respond to questions properly, making urgent specialist medical care essential. Schumacher was helicoptered to a hospital in Moutiers before being moved to a specialist trauma centre in Grenoble.
He survived the accident but there was a period where even medical professionals weren’t certain he would make it through. Chief anaesthetist Jean-Francois Payen confirmed that without his helmet, Schumacher would have died.
Medics were able to perform miracles in the trauma centre and the German star pulled through, though he was initially put into an induced coma. The motorsport legend’s privacy remains fiercely protected, with just three or four individuals beyond his immediate family allowed to visit him.