Michael Schumacher's wife declined offer to 'help' wake him up
A Formula 1 icon has shared how he tried to help his former teammate Michael Schumacher "wake up" after his tragic skiing accident in 2013.
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Mr Schumacher, now 55, suffered a traumatic brain injury while skiing in the French Alps nearly 12 years ago.
He has been receiving regular care ever since a skiing accident back in December 2013.
The seven-time gold medal winner hit his head on a rock in the French Alps and was airlifted to hospital before being placed in an induced coma.
Ricardo Patrese, 71, raced alongside a young Schumacher during their time together at Benetton in 1993 and developed a lasting friendship with the German driver, even after retiring from racing the following year.
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Speaking to the Daily Express, Mr Patrese shared how he hoped that hearing a familiar voice might trigger something for Schumacher in his recovery process - an idea rooted in medical cases where auditory stimuli have prompted positive responses in comatose patients.
“That is a very sad moment,” Mr Patrese said of Mr Schumacher’s accident. “You know that sometimes if they hear [a familiar voice], some boys wake up, that they recognise a voice.
“I asked [his wife] Corinna if they wanted me to go there and try to help, if I could. Well, if I could, I would have, but they said, ‘No, thank you. It's not the moment'."
Felix Gorner, who is understood to be close to the Schumacher family, told reporters earlier this year: "The situation is very sad. "He needs constant care and is completely dependent on his caregivers. And he can no longer express himself verbally.