Michael Schumacher skiing accident

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 30 Dec 2013, 07:02

Awful news and I'm quite concerned tbh.

Ferrim · Post by **Ferrim** » 30 Dec 2013, 09:29

Hats off to the whole F1 community for the behaviour they are showing in this hour. The retirement and the winless years at Mercedes have certainly helped, but yesterday I would have said that, had something like this happened to Vettel, quite a few people would have made disgusting comments. Now I'm not so sure, and that's nice.

News of a second surgery are going around, and it looks like it will be a difficult and slow recovery in the best case scenario. At this moment I just wish that he makes his car as wide as possible, and that he uses every trick, legal and illegal, to impede that dark women in the black car from overtaking him.

Get well soon, Michael!

LellaLombardi · Post by **LellaLombardi** » 30 Dec 2013, 09:40

My mum is a nurse and she says the two big factors in his favour are the swift intervention and the fact that there aren't that many people his age in as good physical shape. I'm just clinging to that and I hope it's enough. One tweet summed it up - "this can't be happening, he has many years to live yet"

johnnyCarwash · Post by **johnnyCarwash** » 30 Dec 2013, 10:32

We're currently having an update of the situation. It doesn't look good. I couldn't believe it when I read it last night. Good luck to his recovery. It's more serious than initially thought.

BBC Sport website wrote:A spokesman for the hospital said: "Michael Schumacher was the victim of very serious trauma. He was very agitated when he arrived and we decided he was in a critical situation and he quickly went into a coma.

"The neurosurgical treatment he received brought us quite a lot of information. We had to operate urgently to release some pressure in his head. Unfortunately, he has some lesions within his brain."

Professor Payen continued: "We can say he is fighting for his life. We judge him to be in a very serious situation. We cannot tell what the outcome will be yet. We are working hour-by-hour but it's too early to say what is going to happen and to have a prognosis.

"We think his helmet did help, without a helmet he wouldn't be here now."

I wish him all the best and a good recovery

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 30 Dec 2013, 10:33

Well, no cause for more worry after the news conference but no signs of optimism either. Everything hangs in the balance for MSC now, fingers crossed.

Collieafc · Post by **Collieafc** » 30 Dec 2013, 10:44

I hope he pulls through. Schumacher was the driver who got me into Formula 1.

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 30 Dec 2013, 10:51

This is some piece of really bad news. It serves to remind me how fragile life is and how everything can change suddenly. I really hope Schumacher makes it.

Although I was always against him in his first career, I did end up a fan of his "hard trying f1 legend" comeback.

Enforcer · Post by **Enforcer** » 30 Dec 2013, 11:05

Everything I read makes it seem worse.

Well people have pulled through stuff like this and he is getting the best treatment.

Post by **Londoner** » 30 Dec 2013, 11:15

It seems like the Richard Hammond situation several years ago when he was almost killed in a dragster accident. He suffered head injuries and brain damage, but his situation improved dramatically after a few days, and he was back presenting Top Gear in early 2007 about 6 months afterwards. I'd like to think the same will happen with Schumi.

shinji · Post by **shinji** » 30 Dec 2013, 11:34

Schumi himself pretty much summing it up.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 30 Dec 2013, 12:56

shinji wrote:Schumi himself pretty much summing it up.

That is strange how much that seems to apply to his situation now (although he has survived for a longer time after his accident than Senna did).

The situation will be discussed on Radio 2 (Jeremy Vine's show) at around 1:30 pm GMT for those who may be interested.

There have been 2 updates on Autosport today (here and here).

The medical team confirmed that Schumacher was being kept in an induced coma to help his chances of recovery, having being operated on after it was found he had suffered cerebral contusion and edema. He has also suffered lesions to his brain.

The severity of Schumacher's injuries and his current condition means doctors are unable to make any predictions about whether or not the German will be able to make a full recovery.

Doctors do believe that Schumacher's fitness should help his chances of recovering though.

Michael Schumacher would not have made it to hospital after his skiing accident if he had not been wearing a helmet, doctors have revealed.

Professor Jean-Francois Payen from the Grenoble hospital said: "We believe that taking into consideration the very violent shock, his helmet did protect him of course.

"Somebody having this kind of accident without the helmet would not have got to here."

Payen added that judging by the extent of the injuries that Schumacher suffered, it was clear his impact with rocks had not been at slow speed.

"Taking into consideration what we have observed, that despite a helmet he arrived with lesions that were quite severe, the shock must have taken place at high speed."

Thank goodness he had the foresight to wear a helmet. I've never been skiing, but on TV and in the movies, it's very rare to see skiiers wear helmets. I hope that this may encourage more to take sensible precautions.

eagleash · Post by **eagleash** » 30 Dec 2013, 13:23

Update/details of Monday 30th press conference via Gary Harstein's blog :-

http://formerf1doc.wordpress.com/2013/1 ... onference/

pasta_maldonado · Post by **pasta_maldonado** » 30 Dec 2013, 13:32

Really getting worried now, hope he manages to pull through. The fact we have not heard anything since the announcement is good news in itself. What's great to see is the whole F1 community uniting in support for a true legend.

LellaLombardi · Post by **LellaLombardi** » 30 Dec 2013, 14:35

We're keen skiers with a holiday booked soon, and we've just bought helmets today having not really felt we needed them before (mini lella has always had one). Lots of people in the shop were doing the same, and there was a very subdued feel to it all.

shinji · Post by **shinji** » 30 Dec 2013, 14:51

It's now this awkward situation where you want to find out that he's OK but the only news that could come out would be really bad. Very definition of 'no news is good news'.

rachel1990 · Post by **rachel1990** » 30 Dec 2013, 14:56

I agree. I'm just praying that he will pull through and will be okay

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 30 Dec 2013, 14:57

shinji wrote:It's now this awkward situation where you want to find out that he's OK but the only news that could come out would be really bad. Very definition of 'no news is good news'.

And its still headline news in the UK (as you'd expect I guess) but it causes my heart to lurch every time as I'm worried its bad news thats coming. Its also depressing as Im sure media outlets will be preparing obituaries 'just in case' because if the worst happens god help us if people cant wait a few hours or a day to read the morbid details.

I'm sorry but times like these always put me in a bad mood.

Post by **Ataxia** » 30 Dec 2013, 15:05

He's as tough as old boots. He'll be fine.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 30 Dec 2013, 15:28

Ataxia wrote:He's as tough as old boots. He'll be fine.

I hope and pray you're right...

AdrianSutil · Post by **AdrianSutil** » 30 Dec 2013, 15:39

dr-baker wrote:
Ataxia wrote:He's as tough as old boots. He'll be fine.

I hope and pray you're right...

I reckon he's gonna be ok. We haven't heard anything for a little while which means his body is fighting back. That's a good sign. An induced coma is a good thing too, it's what he needs. Having said that, I've been a bit nervous all day having been away from a computer so it's good to see he's still fighting.

LellaLombardi · Post by **LellaLombardi** » 30 Dec 2013, 16:18

The nature of these head injuries is that you just have to wait and see until the swelling goes down and you attempt to bring them out of the coma, and that will most likely be in a few more days yet. It's just a waiting game and it must be agony for his wife and kids. That said I agree he is tough as old boots and if anyone can do this then he can.

WeirdKerr · Post by **WeirdKerr** » 30 Dec 2013, 17:01

Even though I am not a Schumacher fan Ive just changed my sig and avatar just till Schumacher recovers.... maybe others would like to follow....

UncreativeUsername37 · Post by **UncreativeUsername37** » 30 Dec 2013, 17:05

I was nervous when I woke up this morning knowing the nine hours I missed. Glad to see he's still okay so far.

Onxy Wrecked · Post by **Onxy Wrecked** » 30 Dec 2013, 17:49

East Londoner wrote:It seems like the Richard Hammond situation several years ago when he was almost killed in a dragster accident. He suffered head injuries and brain damage, but his situation improved dramatically after a few days, and he was back presenting Top Gear in early 2007 about 6 months afterwards. I'd like to think the same will happen with Schumi.

Roberto Guerrero also had a similar situation with a testing crash at Indianapolis in 1987 just to return to racing in 1988. Guerrero was even in a coma for 17 days.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 30 Dec 2013, 19:00

Onxy Wrecked wrote:
East Londoner wrote:It seems like the Richard Hammond situation several years ago when he was almost killed in a dragster accident. He suffered head injuries and brain damage, but his situation improved dramatically after a few days, and he was back presenting Top Gear in early 2007 about 6 months afterwards. I'd like to think the same will happen with Schumi.

Roberto Guerrero also had a similar situation with a testing crash at Indianapolis in 1987 just to return to racing in 1988. Guerrero was even in a coma for 17 days.

And wasn't Karl Wendlinger in a coma for around 19 days?

Sublime_FA11C · Post by **Sublime_FA11C** » 30 Dec 2013, 19:14

Very glad that so many people who would normally resent Schummi are genuinely concerned for him. We can split hairs on his past but this accident came as a complete surprise and is a raw deal for anyone, villian or not.

Sadly, at this point, it could go either way. Yes, he's very tough and in excellent condition but it doesn't have to mean a thing. I want him to recover fully. A world without him is something i did not expect for a long long time.

WeirdKerr · Post by **WeirdKerr** » 30 Dec 2013, 19:30

dr-baker wrote:
Onxy Wrecked wrote:
East Londoner wrote:It seems like the Richard Hammond situation several years ago when he was almost killed in a dragster accident. He suffered head injuries and brain damage, but his situation improved dramatically after a few days, and he was back presenting Top Gear in early 2007 about 6 months afterwards. I'd like to think the same will happen with Schumi.

Roberto Guerrero also had a similar situation with a testing crash at Indianapolis in 1987 just to return to racing in 1988. Guerrero was even in a coma for 17 days.

And wasn't Karl Wendlinger in a coma for around 19 days?

several weeks according to the mostly reliable source of Wikipedia (which if it was an f1 car it would have several DNF)

roblo97 · Post by **roblo97** » 30 Dec 2013, 19:35

dr-baker wrote:And wasn't Karl Wendlinger in a coma for around 19 days?

Yes he was.

LellaLombardi · Post by **LellaLombardi** » 30 Dec 2013, 19:39

WeirdKerr wrote:Even though I am not a Schumacher fan Ive just changed my sig and avatar just till Schumacher recovers.... maybe others would like to follow....

Done, good idea.

WeirdKerr · Post by **WeirdKerr** » 30 Dec 2013, 19:58

LellaLombardi wrote:
WeirdKerr wrote:Even though I am not a Schumacher fan Ive just changed my sig and avatar just till Schumacher recovers.... maybe others would like to follow....

Done, good idea.

though using a different 1 would stop confusion...

ive got a different 1 now

LellaLombardi · Post by **LellaLombardi** » 30 Dec 2013, 20:05

WeirdKerr wrote:
LellaLombardi wrote:
WeirdKerr wrote:Even though I am not a Schumacher fan Ive just changed my sig and avatar just till Schumacher recovers.... maybe others would like to follow....

Done, good idea.

though using a different 1 would stop confusion...

Unfortunately I had already had four attempts at uploading and resizing avatars before I settled for your one! If anyone has a different one I could use I'd be happy to.

UncreativeUsername37 · Post by **UncreativeUsername37** » 30 Dec 2013, 20:18

I've changed my avatar, and I still have one that looks taller than it is wide even though it's not.

Nessafox · Post by **Nessafox** » 30 Dec 2013, 20:21

To get something good out of this terrible news: people will be more aware about safety when such a famous person is involved. People will remember that he survived because of his helmet. (and he is going to survive. I'm just worried that he will never be the same again, though)

AdrianSutil · Post by **AdrianSutil** » 30 Dec 2013, 20:31

This wrote:To get something good out of this terrible news: people will be more aware about safety when such a famous person is involved. People will remember that he survived because of his helmet. (and he is going to survive. I'm just worried that he will never be the same again, though)

Hopefully people will understand the dangers of skiing and take your advice. But many, many people still didn't bother after the tragic death of Liam Neeson's wife a few years back from exactly the same type of accident that has befallen Schumi. Difference was, she wasn't wearing a helmet.

Nessafox · Post by **Nessafox** » 30 Dec 2013, 20:36

AdrianSutil wrote:
This wrote:To get something good out of this terrible news: people will be more aware about safety when such a famous person is involved. People will remember that he survived because of his helmet. (and he is going to survive. I'm just worried that he will never be the same again, though)

Hopefully people will understand the dangers of skiing and take your advice. But many, many people still didn't bother after the tragic death of Liam Neeson's wife a few years back from exactly the same type of accident that has befallen Schumi. Difference was, she wasn't wearing a helmet.

Well, let's hope Michael will surve without too much damage, that will be a good example for safety promoters to tell people that helmets do have a purpose. The fact that Michael is still highly regarded by many people will make people stop associating wearing a helmet with 'being uncool'. Michael might be unpopular, but as far as i know, he's never been associated with the word 'uncool' ever.

WeirdKerr · Post by **WeirdKerr** » 30 Dec 2013, 20:36

AdrianSutil wrote:
This wrote:To get something good out of this terrible news: people will be more aware about safety when such a famous person is involved. People will remember that he survived because of his helmet. (and he is going to survive. I'm just worried that he will never be the same again, though)

Hopefully people will understand the dangers of skiing and take your advice. But many, many people still didn't bother after the tragic death of Liam Neeson's wife a few years back from exactly the same type of accident that has befallen Schumi. Difference was, she wasn't wearing a helmet.

I always wear a helmet when cycling (in the uk it still isn't compulsory) after a friend of mine had a nasty crash some years ago hand broke his arm, but would of most likely died had he not been wearing a helmet....

Collieafc · Post by **Collieafc** » 30 Dec 2013, 20:50

The mere fact he has a chance was down to wearing a helmet. If thats not an incentive to wear one, I dont know what is

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 30 Dec 2013, 21:11

WeirdKerr wrote:I always wear a helmet when cycling (in the uk it still isn't compulsory) after a friend of mine had a nasty crash some years ago hand broke his arm, but would of most likely died had he not been wearing a helmet....

My uncle was once cycling along the road when a driver opened the car door right into his path. Dislocated shoulder and a cracked helmet. Thankfully, he pulled through, but there's always a big "What if?" if he wasn't wearing his helmet.

Post by **mario** » 30 Dec 2013, 21:15

AdrianSutil wrote:
This wrote:To get something good out of this terrible news: people will be more aware about safety when such a famous person is involved. People will remember that he survived because of his helmet. (and he is going to survive. I'm just worried that he will never be the same again, though)

Hopefully people will understand the dangers of skiing and take your advice. But many, many people still didn't bother after the tragic death of Liam Neeson's wife a few years back from exactly the same type of accident that has befallen Schumi. Difference was, she wasn't wearing a helmet.

As you say, even though it seems that events have taken a turn for the worse since the initial reports (though hopefully his condition is stabilising), we can at least take solace that, as LellaLombardi pointed out, that Schumacher's accident does seem to have encouraged other skiers to take greater precautions by wearing helmets when they might have otherwise not done so.

Benetton · Post by **Benetton** » 30 Dec 2013, 21:38

I just hope he makes a complete recovery!