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Michael Schumacher's brave fight - paralysis, speech struggle and watching F1

The world was left reeling in 2013 when Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher suffered a horrifying head injury that would change his life forever.

He had retired from sport just months earlier, and was enjoying a skiing holiday in the French Alps.

While skiing off-piste, Michael fell and hit his head on a rock, suffering a horrific injury despite wearing a helmet.

He was air-lifted to a hospital in Grenoble, and after undergoing two surgeries was placed in a medically induced coma for six months to help reduce the swelling of his brain.

Michael was eventually moved to another hospital in Lausanne, Switzerland, after coming out of his coma in 2014 and after 250 days was allowed to return to his Lake Geneva home.

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It's there that he is now reportedly cared for by his devoted wife Corinna and a team of medical staff.

His loved ones keep medical updates to a minimum as they believe it should stay private, but in a Netflix documentary released in 2021, some details were provided to his fans.

"We're together, we live together at home," said 52-year-old Corinna, who called the skiing accident one of the unluckiest things that could ever occur to someone.

"We do therapy, we do everything we can to make Michael better and ensure he is comfortable, and to simply make him feel our family, our bond.

Michael Schumacher's wife Corinna continues to care for him at their home in Lake Geneva (AFP/Getty Images)

"And no matter what, I will do everything I can. We all will."

The couple share children Mick, 22, who is also a racing driver, and Gina-Maria, 24.

Corinna added: "Of course I miss Michael every day. But it’s not just me who misses him. The children, the family, his father, everyone around him.

"I mean, everybody misses Michael, but Michael is still here. Different, but he’s here, and that gives us strength, I find."

FIA president Jean Todt recently said he watched Formula 1 with friend Michael (AFP/Getty Images)

Michael's good friend and President of the FIA, Jean Todt, said in 2020 that the sporting star is still alive because of the work of dedicated doctors and Corinna's iron will for him to survive.

"I've spent a lot of time with Corinna since Michael had his serious skiing accident," he told German newspaper Bild.

"She is a great woman and runs the family. She hadn't expected that. It happened suddenly and she had no choice. But she does it very well. I trust her, she trusts me.

"Thanks to the work of his doctors and the cooperation of Corinna, who wanted him to survive, he survived - but with consequences."

In 2019, Jean said Michael, who he visited every month, was "slowly and surely improving".

"I’m always careful with such statements, but it’s true," he said.

"I saw the race together with Michael Schumacher at his home in Switzerland," he added, referring to the Formula 1 race that had just finished.

"Michael is in the best hands and is well looked after in his house. He does not give up and keeps fighting."

Michael's son Mick is also a racing driver and said he wished he could talk to his dad about it (FERRARI PRESS OFFICE/AFP via Get)

However, he said he was "saddened" by the fact that his friend, who turns 53 on Monday, struggled to communicate.

"His family is fighting just as much and of course our friendship cannot be the same as it once was just because there’s no longer the same communication as before," said Jean.

F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone also made a positive prediction about Michael's condition in 2019, saying: "He is not with us at the moment.

"But when he gets better, he'll answer all the questions."

Michael Schumacher is said to be "fighting" (AFP)

Late in 2014, fellow former racing driver Philippe Streiff said Michael was paralysed and used a wheelchair - though it's unclear if this is still the case.

Philippe, a good friend of Michael's who also uses a wheelchair after a racing accident, said: "He is getting better but everything is relative. It’s very difficult. He can’t speak.

"Like me, he is in a wheelchair paralysed. He has memory problems and speech problems."

Speaking about her decision to never publicly disclose the details of his injuries, Corinna said in the Netflix documentary: "We're trying to carry on as a family the way Michael liked it and still does, and we are getting on with our lives."

"It’s very important to me that he can continue to enjoy his private life as much as possible.

"Michael was always protecting us, and now we are protecting Michael."

On Monday, to mark Michael's birthday, Jean tweeted: "Happy birthday Mikel! On this special day we celebrate a great #F1 legend and dear friend. Michael @schumacher you continue to be an inspiration to all of us.

"My love to you on this birthday anniversary. #MichaelSchumacher #TeamMichael ".

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