Corinna Schumacher revealed what Michael said on the day of his accident (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Corinna Schumacher, the wife of legend previously revealed her husband’s horrendous accident was almost avoided. On December 29, 2013, when his head collided with a rock whilst he was skiing at the French resort of Meribel.
The harrowing incident resulted in a near-fatal brain injury that plunged him into a coma, from which he . Since the tragedy, Corinna has made sure to keep her family’s privacy respected, offering scant updates about Michael’s condition.
Although she refrains from providing details about Schumacher’s current state, she did reveal a poignant last exchange they shared before the fall in the documentary titled ‘Schumacher’, that premiered in 2021. In an emotional revelation, Corinna explained how an offhand conversation might have steered Schumacher, now 55, away from the ski slopes where his life would be forever transformed in 2013.
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Recalling Michael’s hesitance on the feature, Corinna said: “Shortly before it happened in Meribel, he said to me: ‘The snow isn’t optimal. We could fly to Dubai and go skydiving there’.
“I have never blamed God for what happened. It was just really bad luck, all the bad luck anyone can have in life. It’s always terrible when you say: ‘Why is this happening to Michael or us?’ But then why does it happen to other people? Of course, I miss Michael every day. But it’s not just me who misses him. The children, the family, his father, everyone around him. I mean, everybody misses Michael.”
Corinna has protected his privacy (Image: Getty Images)
The racing community has remained fervent in its desire for updates on Schumacher’s health while respecting the family’s wishes for privacy. The tragedy that struck the F1 star in Meribel has left profound effects on his family, notably son Mick Schumacher, who was with his father during the skiing accident at age 14.
In a heartfelt documentary, Mick said: “Since the accident, of course, these experiences, these moments that I believe many people have with their parents, are no longer present, or to a lesser extent. And in my view, that is a little unfair.
“I think dad and me, we would understand each other in a different way now. Simply because we speak a similar language, the language of motorsport. And that we would have much more to talk about.
“That’s where my head is most of the time. Thinking that would be so cool. That would be it. I would give up everything just for that.”
Meanwhile, Jean Todt, a close companion and ex- F1 chief, has provided the closest semblance of an update on Schumacher’s condition. He told German publication BILD, that he visits the Schumachers’ Swiss home as often as “twice-a-month”. He conveyed hopefulness by stating he anticipates the legendary driver will “slowly and surely improve”.
Schumacher was reportedly present at his daughter Gina’s wedding to her boyfriend Iain Bethke at their luxurious Majorca villa in September. To prevent any leaks, guests were asked to surrender their mobile phones for the event.
Michael Schumacher’s family have had a difficult 11 years (Image: Formula 1 / Netflix)
However, Schumacher’s close friend and former Formula One racer Johnny Herbert dismissed the reports of Michael’s presence as ‘fake news’.
The German racing legend continues to require constant medical attention. And Elisabetta Gregoraci, the former wife of ex-F1 team boss and QPR co-owner Flavio Briatore, previously detailed how Schumacher now communicates. She said: “Michael doesn’t speak, he communicates with his eyes.
“Only three people can visit him and I know who they are. They moved to Spain and his wife has set up a hospital in that house.”
In 2023, it was also reported that Schumacher had been driven in a AMG sports car in an attempt to stimulate parts of his brain previously used for racing.