Neurosurgeon...Michael Schumacher's public appearance at daughter's ...

Neurosurgeon…Michael Schumacher’s public appearance at daughter’s wedding: He’s not….read more

A prominent neurosurgeon has cast doubt on reports that F1 legend Michael Schumacher made a rare public appearance at his daughter Gina’s recent wedding. Gina Schumacher recently married her longtime partner, Iain Bethke, at a lavish ceremony held at Villa Yasmin, the family’s £27 million estate in Majorca. This villa, purchased in 2017 by Schumacher’s wife, Corinna, from Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, served as the backdrop for the intimate event. The couple exchanged vows under a beautiful arch of flowers, and there have been rumors circulating that Schumacher attended the event, marking a rare public appearance since his life-altering accident.

However, the German outlet BILD reported that it was “very likely” Schumacher was present at the wedding, but these claims have since been met with skepticism. Jussi Posti, a leading neurosurgeon and head of the neurosurgery and traumatic brain injury department at Turku University Hospital in Finland, has questioned the accuracy of these reports, suggesting that Schumacher’s condition has likely not improved enough for him to attend such an event.

Schumacher, widely regarded as one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers in history, has been out of the public eye since a skiing accident in 2013 that left him with severe brain injuries. Nearly a year after the accident, an official statement revealed that he was no longer in a coma and had begun what was described as a “long phase of rehabilitation.” Since then, details about his condition have been scarce, with only occasional updates from family members or close friends, keeping the specifics of his health largely a mystery.

Posti’s assessment comes from years of medical expertise and understanding of traumatic brain injuries. Speaking to Iltalehti, Posti expressed skepticism about Schumacher’s ability to attend the wedding. He explained that Schumacher’s long period of recovery and the medical facilities reportedly built at his home suggest that the former champion remains in a state that severely limits his mobility and independence.

“If a hospital has been built in his house, with everything medicalized around him, it seems that he has been in hospital most of the time,” Posti remarked. He further elaborated on the typical recovery trajectory of patients with traumatic brain injuries, stating, “Typically, patients recover what they can recover for up to two years, and then the level of recovery is usually set.”

Posti also noted that after being bedridden for such a long time, patients often become too frail and stiff to leave their beds. He concluded that it is unlikely that Schumacher’s condition has drastically changed over the last decade, casting serious doubts on reports of him making a public appearance.

The Schumacher family has been highly protective of Michael’s privacy since the accident, with few official updates about his condition. In 2020, Spanish media reported that Schumacher had been moved to the family’s villa in Majorca, which was rumored to have been converted into his more permanent residence. Despite these speculations, the true extent of Schumacher’s health challenges remains unknown to the public.