TEN YEARS on from the tragic ski accident which left Michael Schumacher with life-changing injuries, only “a part” of his inner circle knows how he’s faring.
Former Formula One driver Perry McCarthy, 62, says Michael’s family remains intent on “absolute privacy” when it comes to his condition.
London Speaker BureauBritish racing driver Perry McCarthy has spoken out about his pal Michael near the 10-year anniversary of his ski accident[/caption]
AlamyGerman former F1 driver Michael Schumacher cheering at a victory ceremony in 1994[/caption]
AFPMichael has not been seen in public since his accident in the French Alps in 2013[/caption]
Michael, 54, competed in F1 for Jordan, Benetton, Ferrari, and Mercedes during his impressive career of 21 years – which came to a devastating halt in 2013 when he suffered a brain injury while skiing.
The athlete was placed in a coma for six months and now resides in his Switzerland home away from the world as he continues to recover.
His pal Perry of East London this week reflected on the “desperately cruel” nature of what happened almost 10 years ago to the day.
Perry told OLBG: “His family are intent on absolute privacy and only a part of his inner circle will know details of Michael’s condition.
“I think it’s human nature to enquire, and the family will understand that considering how famous Michael is.”
He added: “They’ve also become well-versed in containing the story. It’s incredible that someone so special can be so badly hurt whilst skiing.
“It’s so cruel that Michael happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and everything conspired to leave such a bad mark on his health.”
Perry, the man behind Top Gear‘s original The Stig, said it was “incredibly sad” how despite working in a high-risk job, it was something completely unrelated which “struck” him.
He said: “It’s also incredible to think of all the near-misses that Michael, or any racing driver, had in his career, only for him to be struck down by a skiing accident and be so severely hurt that it has affected the family for ten years.”
The F1 racing pair shared many significant milestones and memories, with Perry describing his long-time mate as someone who was warm and generous with a sense of humour.
Perry reflected: “Nobody knows exactly what Michael would have gone on to do, but my feeling is that he’d have done something for humanity.
“I feel he had that capacity, and I think he would have retained his love for F1, but he would have realised that there are much bigger things in life and he had the opportunity to change things.”
It came as Michael’s brother Ralf, 48, shared a devastating update on the injured driving legend and said “nothing is like it used to be”.
He previously revealed that he hadn’t been allowed much contact with Michael’s family.
Just ahead of the ten year anniversary, Ralf admitted: “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.”
Another pal of Michael’s, 59-year-old former F1 driver Johnny Herbert, said Michael’s wife Corinna is carrying on the way he would have wanted despite the “huge void” left by his horror ski crash.
He explained: “She [Corinna] has said they are trying to carry on as a family as Michael would have wanted.
“They are getting on with their lives but private does mean private.”
AlamyThe F1 legend drove for Jordan, Benetton, Ferrari and Mercedes in a career that spanned 21 years[/caption]
AlamyMichael Schumacher poses with his wife Corinna on a piste in 2003[/caption]