A neurology expert has claimed that seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher might never fully recover from his current state.
The motorsport legend suffered a traumatic brain injury seven years ago after hitting his head on some rocks while skiing in the French Alps back in 2013.
Schumacher, who turned 50 on January 3, 2019, has not been seen in public since the accident and was reportedly receiving £115,000-per-week medical care at a facility at his Lake Geneva home. Overall costs are now expected to have exceeded well over £20 million.
There is, however, almost nothing known about his current health situation, but Zurich-based neurology specialist Professor Erich Riederer has recently revealed his thoughts about the German legend.
He said, as per Grand Prix.news: "I think he’s in a vegetative state, which means he’s awake but not responding.
“He is breathing, his heart is beating, he can probably sit up and take baby steps with help but no more.
“I think that’s the maximum for him. Is there any chance of seeing him like he was before his accident? I really don’t think so.”
Despite this rather bleak outlook, one of Schumacher’s best friends Jean Todt, who oversaw five of the German’s seven Formula One triumphs with Ferrari, went to visit him recently and said: “He is fighting. My God, we know he had a terrible and unfortunate skiing accident, which has caused him lots of problems.
“But he has an amazing wife next to him, he has kids, his nurses, and we can only wish him the best and to wish the family the best, too.”
Indeed, it was reported that Schumacher still enjoys watching F1 races and his son Mick Schumacher, now 21, has been tipped to follow in his dad’s footsteps by former Ferrari boss Ross Brawn.
The 21-year-old German currently leads the Formula 2 championship in his second year at the sport’s reserve level, and is believed to be in line for a seat at either Alfa Romeo or Haas in Formula One next year.