He is among the most well-known athletes of all time.
But for the past decade, Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher, 55, has been virtually absent from public life.
His hiatus came after a life-changing skiing incident in 2013 that left him in a devastating coma.
A statement issued almost a year after the accident told his fans that he was no longer in a coma and was “continuing a long phase of rehabilitation.”
Now, as the father of two is seen for the first time at his daughter’s Spanish wedding, fans are wondering: what is his health today?
Formula 1 legend Michael Schumer, 55, who suffered a life-changing ski accident in 2013, was seen in public for the first time in more than a decade at his daughter’s wedding in Spain.
A file image dated January 11, 2000 shows German Ferrari Formula One driver Schumacher making a turn while skiing in the Italian resort of Madonna di Campiglio, Italy.
The last proper update fans received was in 2023, when Schumacher was reported to have driven a Mercedes AMG sports car in a bid to stimulate areas of his brain he once used for racing.
Farrari’s former boss, Jean Todt, has spoken several times about his recovery since the accident.
In an interview with a French magazine late last year, she said: “Michael is here, so I don’t miss him.” (But he) just isn’t the Michael he used to be. He is different and is wonderfully guided by his wife and children who protect him.
‘His life is different now and I have the privilege of sharing moments with him.
‘That’s all there is to say. Unfortunately, fate struck him ten years ago. “He is no longer the Michael we knew in Formula One.”
Rumors that Schumacher cannot speak were backed up by his son, Mick, during a 2021 Netflix documentary about his father’s life. He said: “I think dad and I would understand each other in a different way now.”
The effects of a traumatic brain injury depend on a number of factors, such as the type, location and severity of the injury, says brain injury charity Headway.
He adds that the symptoms of a brain injury are very varied, from physical effects such as balance problems, headaches and dizziness, to cognitive, emotional and behavioral effects. This can include memory problems, fatigue, and anger.
On December 29, 2013, Schumacher’s life was quickly altered by the tragic accident while on a family vacation in the French Alps.
He fell meters from a popular ski slope and suffered serious head injuries.
Deciding to go off the trail, Schumer did not realize that there were some rocks hidden from view by the snow.
His skis hit one of those rocks and the sudden force catapulted him into the air, leaving him unable to avoid a head-on collision with another rock.
He fractured his skull and was left with a brain injury.
Ski patrollers and a helicopter rescue team arrived at the scene within minutes, and witnesses claimed that Schumacher was conscious after the crash but was unable to answer questions and was moving erratically.
Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, the rescue team quickly immobilized him and transported him to the nearby Moutiers hospital, where he arrived at 11:53 a.m.
From there, a helicopter took him to Grenoble University Hospital Center, a major medical center equipped with a specialized neurosurgery unit, for two surgeries that saved his life and reduced pressure on his brain.
A subsequent investigation determined that Schumacher was traveling at a normal speed and not skiing beyond his capabilities at the time of the accident.
But his injuries, which would almost certainly have been fatal had the former driver not been wearing a helmet, are believed to have been aggravated by a motorcycle accident in February 2009 in which he suffered fractures to his head and neck.
He then spent six months in a coma to aid his recovery and did not return to his family home in Switzerland until nine months after the accident.
The medical professionals and his wife are believed to provide 24-hour care.