On 29 December 2013, a year after his definitive retirement from Formula 1, a serious skiing accident in the French Alps would change the life of the seven-time world champion forever.

Schumacher had ventured off the marked slopes with his son Mick and a group of friends when he lost control while crossing a rocky section. Investigators later ruled out excessive speed or risky behaviour, making clear that recklessness was not a factor.

During the fall, Schumacher struck his head on a rock and suffered severe trauma. He was wearing a helmet—equipment that likely proved vital to his survival—despite the impact being so violent that it split the helmet in two.

Following the crash, the former German driver initially remained awake but showed signs of confusion, with his state deteriorating quickly shortly afterwards.

Medical teams treated him at the scene before transferring him by helicopter to Grenoble University Hospital. There, specialists confirmed extensive brain trauma, identifying widespread contusions and internal bleeding.

To manage the critical situation, surgeons carried out two urgent operations to relieve intracranial pressure, after which Schumacher was put into an induced coma to help control brain swelling and protect vital functions.

Schumacher’s recovery entered a long and delicate phase between late 2013 and mid-2014, as he spent nearly six months in a medically induced coma. Improvements were gradual and uncertain, with doctors only beginning to ease sedation in April 2014. Two months later, confirmation came that he had regained consciousness.

His rehabilitation continued first at a specialist clinic in Lausanne before he was relocated, in September 2014, to his home near Lake Geneva. The property was reportedly transformed into a highly specialised medical environment, fitted with cutting-edge neurological technology and supported by a permanent team of physicians, physiotherapists, and rehabilitation experts.

Over the years, numerous rumours have circulated about a supposed improvement in the condition of the Schumacher, ranging from outright fabrications to reports that were exaggerated to varying degrees.

What is certain, however, is that the family has consistently demanded the utmost discretion and privacy. Only a very small, tightly controlled circle of people has been allowed to visit the German champion, all under strict assurances that no information or material regarding his health would be disclosed publicly.

“Michael is here. Different, but here,” his wife Corinna Schumacher said in the 2021 Netflix documentary about her husband. “We are doing everything humanly possible and everything medically possible. Everything that can be done is being done.”

“Privacy is very important to us. It is essential that Michael can continue to enjoy his private life,” she added, reaffirming the family’s determination to maintain the utmost discretion surrounding his condition.