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Few names in the realm of elite sport evoke the same reverence and awe as Michael Schumacher.
A veritable motorsport legend and titan of the Formula One paddock, Schumacher’s career boasted seven F1 world championships alongside a dazzling array of records, and he is considered by many to be the greatest driver of all time.
But on December 29, 2013, his life was swiftly and irrevocably altered by a tragic accident, which at the time seemed scarcely believable – and cruelly ironic.
But one year later while on a family holiday in the French Alps, the speed demon was caught out in a freak fall mere metres away from a popular ski slope that resulted in critical head injuries.
The sporting icon has remained hidden away from the public eye ever since, with Schumacher’s health journey over the past decade shrouded by an almost impenetrable veil of secrecy.
Now, 10 years on from that fateful day – and just five days shy of his 55th birthday – MailOnline recaps what we know about the extent of Schumi’s injuries, examines the scraps of detail that slipped through the tightly controlled information bubble, and speculates on what the future may hold for the racing icon.
READ MORE:Michael Schumacher is able to ‘sit at the dinner table’ at his family’s luxury villa
While descending the highly popular Combe de Saulire route, Schumacher opted to venture off-piste, entering into a small sliver of uncombed powder between Piste Chamois and Piste Biche that was peppered with small rocks.
The master driver was also a highly adept and committed skier – his skill was such that he had a run named after him at the Italian resort of Madonna di Campiglio, where Ferrari hosted its annual winter retreat.
But despite the relatively gentle gradient and the short distance of the off-piste section, a hidden danger was lying in wait. The snowfall had concealed some of the boulders from view, turning the powder paradise into a minefield.
Schumacher’s skis clipped one such boulder and the sudden force catapulted him into the air – leaving him powerless to avoid a head-first collision with another rock.
The impact was devastating. Schumacher’s helmet absorbed much of the force, but the severity of the accident cracked the hard shell and fractured Schumacher’s skull, leading to a traumatic brain injury.
Ski patrollers and a helicopter rescue team arrived at the scene within minutes, with eyewitnesses claiming Schumacher was conscious after the accident, but was unable to answer questions and was moving erratically.
