Almost ten years have passed since that dramatic December 29th, in which the life of Michael Schumacher changed irreversibly following a terrible skiing accident in the French town of Meribel. Despite wearing a helmet, Michael suffered severe head injuries, leading the doctors at the Grenoble hospital to induce him into a drug-induced coma for a staggering 250 days.
Since then, the family has always preferred to maintain maximum privacy about the Kaiser’s condition, and very few people are currently aware of his health status. However, a new investigation seems to have shed some light on what really happened that day.
Almost ten years after Michael Schumacher’s accident: Jens Gideon’s investigation
In a podcast series by the Ard broadcaster, the German journalist Jens Gideon, after meticulously analyzing the entire incident and collecting the testimony of one of the ski instructors present on the Meribel slope that day, has revealed some disturbing behind-the-scenes details about what happened on December 29th.
According to Andre (as called by the journalist), two mistakes were made that, if prevented, could have made a significant difference in the consequences that Schumacher unfortunately had to face from then on.
Michael Schumacher’s recklessness
Ironically, Michael himself would have made the first major mistake. According to the witness, Schumi made a significant error in judgment, deciding to ski that day despite the fact that there was very little snow at that moment: “There were not ideal conditions for skiing, even on the track.”
Furthermore, Michael made another mistake, deciding to venture off the track, despite visible exposed rocks: “It’s even more dangerous to venture off-track on a day like that. Schumacher knew the area like the back of his hand because he had a chalet near the slopes,” adds the Kolner Express newspaper.
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Incorrect assessment by the rescuers
The second major error in judgment, according to the report, was made by the first responders who arrived at the scene of the accident. They would have underestimated the severity of what happened, deciding to transport the former driver to the small clinic in Moutiers by helicopter.
During the journey, however, his conditions rapidly deteriorated, leading to the decision to turn back and transport the former Ferrari driver to the better-equipped hospital in Grenoble.
According to ‘Andre,’ those minutes would have been fatal for the sudden deterioration of his health, and more timely first aid could have prevented many of the subsequent brain injuries.
Finally, there is still mystery surrounding the alleged video of the incident. According to some reports, Michael Schumacher would have mounted a small action camera on the helmet visor, which would have caused additional damage in the impact against the rock.
However, to date, no video has been released, and it is unknown whether such footage exists and is in the possession of the family. Apart from his wife Corinna and their two children Mick and Gina-Maria, very few people know about Michael’s current health conditions.
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