Netflix's 'Schumacher': What really happened to Formula One racer Michael Schumacher?
It was an ill-fated December 29 that saw life change for the Schumachers. Michael Schumacher had headed out to ski with his then 14-year-old son Mick and the duo were descending the Combe de Saulire below the Dent de Burgin above Méribel in the French Alps. Everything seemed fine until that moment in where he fell and hit his head on a rock while crossing an off-piste region between Piste Chamois and Piste Mauduit.
Only time will tell whether there will be more on the horrific injury suffered on Netflix's 'Schumacher'. The documentary will add to the F1 content the streamer has produced after 'A life of speed: The Juan Manuel Fangio' story and three successful installments of 'Drive to Survive.'
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The aftermath of Michael Schumacher's skiing accident
Schumacher fell and sustained a head injury despite wearing a ski helmet. The doctors who looked after him stated that not using the helmet would have resulted in death. Soon after his accident, he was airlifted to the Grenoble hospital and underwent two surgeries. The German racer was placed in a medically-induced coma following the diagnosis of the traumatic brain injury he suffered. Over the months, multiple reports regarding his recovery surfaced.
In June 2014, Schumacher left Grenoble for further rehabilitation at the Lausanne University Hospital in Switzerland. He was discharged from the hospital in September was moved back home for further rehabilitation. While some media promised encouraging news, some said he was "paralyzed" was confined to a wheelchair. Inability to speak and memory issues were cited as well. His manager and close family friend, Sabine Kehm had stated in 2015 that Schumacher's recovery was slow, but improving.
Jean Todt, the head of F1's governing body FIA and one of Schumacher's closest confidantes, said in a recent interview with Radio Monte-Carlo that the F1 star was "making good progress". He said: "I'm always careful with such statements, but it's true," adding that he "saw the race together with Michael Schumacher at his home in Switzerland." He continued, "Michael is in the best hands and is well looked after in his house. He does not give up and keeps fighting."
In 2020, Italian media reported that French cardiologist Dr Philippe Menasche, who has purportedly operated on the Formula One racing legend previously, will now perform seminal heart surgery on the former top seed. Known as a “pioneer in stem cell surgery” — is reportedly going to perform a stem cell procedure on the former racer's heart. Menasche is reportedly using the surgery to transfer stem cells from Schumacher's heart to his brain, according to Spanish outlet 20minutos.
The latest update is that Schumacher continues to recover at his home in Gland, Switzerland, and is surrounded by immediate family. His son Mick currently races for the Hass F1 team.
The official synopsis of the documentary reads: "Fully supported by Michael Schumacher’s family, SCHUMACHER features rare interviews and previously undisclosed archival footage and draws a very sensitive yet critical portrait of the seven-time World Champion. The documentary explores the many facets that made and define this complex athlete and accompanies him on his meteoric rise in this challenging and dangerous sport, which is followed by millions worldwide."
'Schumacher' releases September 15 on Netflix.
