Method 1 legend Michael Schumacher suffered a traumatic mind damage following a snowboarding accident in 2013 and the helicopter pilot concerned in his rescue has spoken for the primary time
The helicopter pilot who helped transport Michael Schumacher to hospital after his snowboarding accident has recalled how he ‚thought it was a joke‘ when he was first informed they had been going to the Method 1 legend’s help.
Schumacher, one of the adorned drivers in F1 historical past, sustained a traumatic mind damage in December 2013 after crashing throughout a snowboarding journey. Yannick Dainese was on obligation as a pilot for SAF Hélicoptères on the day in query and was concerned within the operation which noticed Schumacher transported for remedy within the French Alps.
Over a decade on, Yannick has now spoken of the incident for the primary time in an interview with L’Equipe and recollects how a rescuer first knowledgeable him that they had been heading in the direction of the 57-year-old – and the way he initially did not consider it.
Yannick mentioned: “A rescuer jumped out of the helicopter with the physician and mentioned to me ‘We’re going to Schumacher!’
“At first I assumed he was joking. However when the commander ordered us to take away our microphones and GoPros, and to forbid journalists from accompanying us, I understood that it was true.”
Regardless of not being a Method 1 fan, Yannick provides he was conscious of who Schumacher was, explaining: “Subconsciously, the stress was there as a result of I knew he was worshipped like a god.
“However for me, he was simply one other severely injured particular person.”
Schumacher was positioned into an induced coma for six months following the accident and particulars over his situation stay scarce. The German has not appeared publicly because the accident.
Schumacher has not been seen publicly since his snowboarding accident(Picture: AFP/Getty Pictures)
It’s understood that Schumacher resides on the household’s residence on Lake Geneva, the place he receives round the clock care from a devoted medical workforce. Solely a choose few folks exterior of his household have been permitted to go to the seven-time F1 champion within the 12 years since his accident.
Yannick went again to the hospital shortly after and was shocked by the response to Schumacher’s accident. He mentioned: “A number of days after the accident, I went again to the hospital to move one other injured particular person.
“What I noticed shocked me: there have been so many buses, pink flags, and folks in every single place that the hospital grounds had been remodeled right into a Method 1 circuit. It was unbelievable.”
