Michael Schumacher's health enigma grows as ex-teammate refutes wedding story
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Ferrari icon Michael Schumacher has been fiercely protected by his devoted family ever since his life-altering skiing accident. The 55-year-old Formula One champion has not been seen in public for over a decade, following a tragic incident that left him with a severe brain injury. Since then, his family, especially his wife Corinna Schumacher, has ensured his privacy is maintained, with strict limitations placed on visitors and the outside world.
However, there were recent reports suggesting that the protective barrier around Schumacher might have been eased slightly, following claims that he attended the wedding of his daughter, Gina-Maria, and her new husband, Iain Bethke, earlier this year. The 27-year-old equestrian, who has followed in her father’s sporting footsteps, married at the family’s lavish €32 million estate in Majorca on September 28.
German outlets had reported that Michael Schumacher was indeed present at the ceremony, though with tight restrictions in place. Guests were reportedly required to leave their phones at the door to prevent any photos of the Formula 1 legend from being taken.
However, these claims have now been cast into doubt by Michael Schumacher’s close friend and former teammate, Johnny Herbert. The ex-Formula 1 driver and Le Mans winner has publicly dismissed the reports, calling them “fake news” and shutting down any suggestions that Michael Schumacher attended the event.
In an interview for Flashscore he explained: “It will always be a closed shop. The most recent rumour was he attended his daughter’s wedding. Unfortunately, from what I understand that was all A1 fake news and no truth in it.” – Johnny Herbert pointed out.
Neurosurgeon Jussi Posti had previously expressed skepticism about the reports, labeling them as highly improbable given the reported condition of Michael Schumacher. According to Jussi Posti, the alleged health status of the racing legend would make it extremely challenging for him to attend an event such as a wedding. Despite this, Posti did acknowledge that Michael Schumacher had been transported in the past from his family’s residence to their estate in Majorca. However, such travel, Jussi Posti suggests, is far different from public appearances or participation in social gatherings, which would be considerably more demanding given Michael Schumacher’s current medical situation: “If a hospital has been built in his house, with everything medicalised around him, it seems that he has been in hospital most of the time. Based on the information available, I don’t think he leads a very active life. Everything points to him being unwell. As bedridden patients, most people become so frail and stiff that it is no longer possible to get them out of bed after so many years.” – Jussi Posti explained.
In 2013, the Schumacher family’s world was forever altered when Michael suffered a horrific skiing accident in the French Alps, colliding with a rock. Although his helmet absorbed most of the impact, the brain injury he sustained was catastrophic. After undergoing two life-saving surgeries, the iconic Formula 1 driver was placed in a medically induced coma for several months. From the outset, Michael’s family worked tirelessly to shield the public from the details of his condition, offering only occasional updates.
In the initial days following the accident, it was confirmed that Michael was in critical condition and fighting for his life. Another official statement did not emerge until April 2014, when the family disclosed that Michael had exhibited “moments of consciousness and awakening.” By the following summer, news broke that Michael had been removed from the coma and transferred to a rehabilitation center for further care.
By September 2014, Michael was brought back to his family's lakeside home near Lake Geneva, where he would receive round-the-clock care from his wife, Corinna, and a dedicated medical team. Corinna, who has remained resolutely protective of her husband’s privacy, allowed only a small circle of close friends and family to visit him, and even those visits were carefully managed with strict protocols. As a result, very few people are believed to have knowledge of the full extent of Michael’s condition and the details of his ongoing care, which have remained largely undisclosed.
In late 2014, fans received a rare glimpse into Michael’s health when his close friend and former racing colleague, Philippe Streiff, disclosed that Michael was paralyzed and reliant on a wheelchair. Streiff, who himself uses a wheelchair following a racing accident, shared this information publicly, shedding light on the severity of Michael Schumacher’s condition: “He is getting better but everything is relative. It’s very difficult. He can’t speak. Like me, he is in a wheelchair paralysed. He has memory problems and speech problems.”
Former Ferrari team principal Jean Todt has previously spoken about Corinna Schumacher’s unwavering determination and strength in caring for her beloved husband. He highlighted her extraordinary commitment throughout the years, noting how her resolve has been crucial in managing the difficult circumstances surrounding Michael’s condition. However, Todt also acknowledged that while Michael’s miraculous survival was a testament to his resilience, it has also come with significant consequences. In an interview with Bild, he shared his thoughts on the profound impact the accident has had on both Michael’s life and the lives of those closest to him: “I’ve spent a lot of time with Corinna since Michael had his serious skiing accident on December 29, 2013. She is a great woman and runs the family. She hadn’t expected that. It happened suddenly and she had no choice. But she does it very well. I trust her, she trusts me. Thanks to the work of his doctors and the cooperation of Corinna, who wanted him to survive, he survived – but with consequences.”
In September 2020, reports surfaced indicating that Michael Schumacher had been spending an increasing amount of time in Majorca, the location of his daughter Gina’s wedding. Alongside this, more heartbreaking information about the true extent of his condition began to surface. At that time, Elisabetta Gregoraci, the former wife of ex-F1 team principal Flavio Briatore, shared her insights with the Spanish media. She revealed devastating new details about Michael’s ongoing health struggles, further emphasizing the severity of his condition and the challenges he and his family continue to face in private: “Michael doesn’t speak, he communicates with his eyes. Only three people can visit him and I know who they are.” In additional comments made on the Italian version of Big Brother, Elisabetta claimed: “They moved to Spain and his wife has set up a hospital in that house.”
In the 2021 Netflix documentary *SCHUMACHER*, Corinna Schumacher made it clear how crucial it is to safeguard her husband’s privacy. She expressed the deep importance of keeping details about Michael's health and their family’s life out of the public eye, emphasizing that the focus should remain on his well-being rather than on the intense media scrutiny. Corinna explained that, while she is fully dedicated to her husband’s recovery and respecting his wishes, she must also ensure that his dignity is maintained in the face of overwhelming public attention: “We’re trying to carry on as a family, the way Michael liked it and still does. And we are getting on with our lives. It’s very important to me that he can continue to enjoy his private life as much as possible. Michael always protected us, and now we are protecting Michael.”
Tragically, this commitment to protect Michael’s privacy was severely tested during the summer, when it was revealed that the Schumacher family had fallen victim to a blackmail scheme. A father and son threatened to release deeply personal and distressing images of the F1 legend from the aftermath of his accident, seeking to extort millions of pounds from the family in the process.
Despite the immense pain and challenges they have faced, the Schumacher family has shown remarkable strength and resilience. They have continued to honor Michael’s memory, sharing touching tributes and reflecting on the happier times they shared with him. In January, Michael’s children, Mick and Gina, marked their father’s birthday by posting heartfelt childhood photos on social media. Mick, in particular, expressed his love and admiration in a poignant message, paying tribute to his father with both tenderness and strength. Mick wrote: “Happy birthday to the best dad ever. Love you. Captioning her own nostalgic post, Gina said: “Happy Birthday Papa! Throwback to one of many of our adventures.”
Regrettably, despite their strong resilience, it is reported that some family relationships have become strained. In November of the previous year, Michael’s younger brother Ralf expressed his deep sadness over the loss of contact with Corinna and Michael following the tragic accident.
In an interview with the German magazine *Bunte*, Ralf, who also had a successful career in racing, opened up about the emotional toll of being distanced from his brother and his family during such a challenging time, sharing his feelings of heartache and longing for connection: “When I see his children Gina-Maria and Mick, my heart smiles. If someone in the family is looking for my advice, I’m there. They go their own way. I miss the Michael of the old days. Life is unfair from time to time. Michael was very lucky throughout his life. But then there was this tragic accident. Michael wasn’t only my brother. When we were kids, he was also my coach and mentor. He taught me literally everything about kart racing.”
Despite previous estrangement, Ralf, 49, was present at his niece’s wedding, marking a significant moment of reconciliation. Earlier this year, Ralf publicly came out as gay, nearly a decade after his 2015 divorce from former Playboy model Cora. There had long been rumors suggesting that the Schumacher family harbored concerns about Cora’s potential for indiscretion, but according to reports, they have no such worries about Ralf’s new partner, Etienne. Both Ralf and Etienne were invited to the wedding, signaling a shift in family dynamics and a willingness to embrace new beginnings.
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