Michael Schumacher’s wife makes huge decision in star’s health battle as update emerges

Since his traumatic skiing accident, Michael Schumacher’s health has been a mystery.

The 55-year-old former racing driver hasn’t been seen in public since the tragedy more than ten years ago, and according to reports, he spends his days in a home hospital setting receiving round-the-clock care. His family have remained tight-lipped about his condition, with his devoted wife, Corinna Schumacher, said to exercise extreme caution with only trusted visitors.

As his ex-bodyguard’s ongoing blackmail investigation is brought to court, the family is reportedly fighting to keep details of his health a secret. Markus Fritsche, who worked with Schumacher until about 2021, is accused of aiding and abetting blackmail of the family, allegedly using hundreds of private photos, videos and the driver’s medical notes.

He has now appeared in court in Germany alongside Yilmaz Tozturkan, a bouncer, and his son, Daniel Lins, an IT expert, over the alleged extortion plot. Tozturkan is accused of ‘ threatening ‘ to release family photos on the dark web unless they paid up £12, 000, 000 (€15, 000, 000).

German newspaper Bild reports that Corinna has applied for the case to be heard privately, allowing the general public to not be present at the hearing if her husband’s health is discussed. According to MailOnline, Fritzsche allegedly told Tozturkan over coffee that he was “in possession of this material” and that he had asked if we could use it for anything.

Following reports that he had attended Gina-Maria’s wedding and her husband Iain Bethke’s wedding earlier this year, it was believed the star’s ring of protection relaxed. The 27-year-old equestrian star, who has followed in her dad’s athletic footsteps, tied the knot at the family’s £27million Majorcan villa on September 28.

Schumacher was reportedly present at the ceremony, according to reports from Germany, but strict regulations still remained. According to reports, wedding guests were instructed to leave their phones at the door so that Michael wouldn’t be spotted.

However, the claims were disputed by the seven-time world champion’s close friend. Johnny Herbert, the ex-Formula 1 star and Le Mans winner, dissected the reports and labeled the suggestions “fake news.” He told Flashscore: “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”.

Due to the alleged condition Schumacher is in, neurosurgeon Jussi Posti previously disputed the claims as highly unlikely. According to Posti, Schumacher’s rumored condition would put a lot of strain on his attendance, despite the fact that he has previously been flown from their Mallorcan villa.

If a hospital has been constructed in his house and everything is being treated there, Posti told Iltalehti: “It seems like he has been in hospital most of the time.” “Based on the information available, I don’t think he leads a very active life. He appears to be in good health, in every way. Most people who have been bedridden become so frail and stiff after a long period of time that it is impossible to get them out of bed.

Michael crashed while skiing in the French Alps in 2013 and hit his head against a rock, forever changing the lives of the Schumachers. His helmet took most of the impact, but his brain injury was still severe, and after undergoing two life-saving operations, the sporting legend spent months in a medically induced coma. Although a few updates were provided, Michael’s family made every effort to keep the details of his condition out of the public’s view right from the beginning.

It was immediately established that Michael was in critical condition and fighting for his life. The family’s claim that Michael had “seen moments of consciousness and awakening” wasn’t made until April 2014 wasn’t made public. It was discovered that Michael had been moved to a rehabilitation facility after leaving the coma the following summer.

By September 2014, Michael was back at his family home in Lake Geneva, where Corinna and a team of doctors were taking him around the clock. Corinna has strictly adhered to strict rules, allowing only a select few trusted friends and family members to visit him, despite her dedicated efforts to safeguarding her husband’s dignity. Meanwhile, it’s understood only a handful of people know the details of Michael’s condition and care.

Fans’ rare insight into Michael’s condition came late in 2014 when a close friend and former racing driver, Philippe Streiff, revealed that he was paralyzed and in a wheelchair. Philippe, who also uses a wheelchair after a racing accident, shared: “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”.

Meanwhile, ex-Ferrari boss Jean Todt previously spoke of Corinna’s incredible determination in caring for her beloved husband but said that his miraculous survival had ‘ consequences’. Since Michael’s serious skiing accident on December 29, 2013, he told Bild, “I’ve spent a lot of time with Corinna.” She is a wonderful mother who is in charge of the household. She hadn’t expected that. She had no other options but to react quickly. But she does it skillfully. 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, it was reported that Michael had been spending more time in Majorca, where Gina’s wedding took place. Additionally, more troubling details about his condition’s reality surfaced. At the time, Elisabetta Gregoraci, the ex-wife of former F1 team boss Flavio Briarote, told Spanish press: “Michael doesn’t speak, he communicates with his eyes. I am aware of the identities of three visitors who are the only ones who can see him. Elisabetta claimed in additional comments on the Italian version of Big Brother that her husband had moved to Spain and that house had been built.

In the 2021 Netflix documentary SCHUMACHER, Corinna emphasised the importance of protecting her husband’s privacy, stating: “We’re trying to carry on as a family, the way Michael liked it and still does. And we’re continuing our lives. I think it’s very important for him to be able to enjoy his private life the most. Michael always protected us, and now we are protecting Michael”.

Unfortunately, this commitment was threatened over the summer when it became known that a father and son allegedly threatened to release sensitive information about the F1 legend in the wake of the crash.

Despite the heartbreaking difficulties they’ve endured, the family have stayed resilient, sharing sweet tributes to Michael, and remembering joyful memories. Back in January, Michael’s children Mick and Gina took to social media to mark their dad’s birthday with childhood photographs. 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. “

Unfortunately, despite this display, it’s said that some family connections have become strained. Ralf, Michael’s younger brother, expressed his heartache in November of last year when Corinna and Michael lost contact due to the horrifying accident.

Speaking with German magazine Bunte, Ralf, who also enjoyed an impressive racing career, shared:” 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. “

He continued:” I miss the Michael of the old days. Sometimes life gets unfair. Michael had a very good life throughout. 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 literally taught me everything about kart racing.

However, Ralph, 49, was in attendance at his niece’s wedding despite being previously estranged. Fast ten years after his divorce from Cora, a former Playboy model, in 2015, Ralph officially declared himself gay in July. Rumors have suggested that the Schumachers had concerns about Cora’s “potentially indiscreet” but that Ralf and his new partner Etienne, who both had been invited, are unfounded.

Source: Mirror