The family of Michael Schumacher has been trying to keep secret his condition after his tragic skiing accident in the French Alps in December 2013.
In fact, they have imposed a news blackout on the physical condition of the seven-time Formula One world champion after he was medically induced to wake up from his coma more than six months after his accident.
The trickle reports that gets to make it to the media come from the close friends of Michael during their occasional visit to the racer at his Lake Geneva home in Switzerland. Most of them are saying that he is recovering but are also saying that the recovery process would be long and arduous.
However, the German magazine, Bunte, recently reported that Schumi can already walk a few steps.
The intention was obviously good as it wanted to raise the hopes of the millions of fans of Schumacher that their idol could be well again. Bunte also said that the racer is very thin but could already raise his arm. His weight might be quite expected but his being able to walk and raise his arm are far from the truth apparently.
As such, the family decided to sue the German magazine for publishing the inaccurate physical condition of Michael. The family lawyer, Felix Damm, explained in the suit that the claims of Bunte are untrue especially on saying that Michael can already walk or raise his arm.
The Schumacher family is seeking a monetary damage of between EUR 40,000 (US$44,684) to EUR 100,000 (US$111,710) from Bunte magazine, notes The Sydney Morning Herald.
Detailing the extent of Michael’s injuries
In order to debunk the claim of Bunte magazine, Felix Damm, had to detail to the German court the extent of Schumacher’s injuries in the lawsuit.
The family lawyer revealed that Michael Schumacher still cannot walk almost three years after his tragic skiing accident.
When Bunte first made the report, Schumacher’s agent Sabine Kehm released a statement denying the story by saying that she is forced by a recent press report to clarify the assertion that Michael could move again is not true at all.
Kehm said that such speculation is irresponsible because, given the seriousness of Michael’s injuries, the racer’s privacy is very important. She added that the report is also giving false hopes to many involved people, reports BBC News.
Still possible with God
Nothing is impossible with God. That seems to be the message of former F1 priest Don Sergio Mantovani when asked about the health condition of legendary Formula One racer Michael Schumacher.
Mantovani said that Schumi is one who believes in God even though he might have never been to church and his belief in God would be crucial in helping him recover from his ordeal.
Schumacher had a skiing accident in the French Alps in December 2013 and has since been bed-ridden and recuperating in his home in Lake Geneva in Switzerland, employing the services of 15 doctors and medical care experts just to ensure that he recovers soon.
However, the prognosis seems to indicate that it would be very difficult for Michael Schumacher to fully recover again. In fact, Gerd Kramer from F1 had recently stated that it would be nothing short of a miracle to see Schumacher fully recover again.
Mantovani knows a bit of Schumacher’s health since he has visited him not too long ago but he would not dare reveal it to the press in respect of the wishes of the Schumacher family. He also said that his visit was quite some time ago so he is no longer aware what is the most up-to-date information on the seven-time Formula One world champion.
Former Ferrari chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo is one of those privileged few who was able to personally visit Michael Schumacher in his Lake Geneva home in June and he said that the F1 racer is responding to treatment.