The spotlight has been on ex-Formula One player Michael Schumacher since he suffered a major injury during his skiing experience in the French Alps. The former champion’s family lawyer recently issued an official statement regarding his recovery, slamming the reports stating that his client is now capable of walking.
Felix Damm spoke to CNN and said that Schumacher is still struggling to stand, let alone walk.
"I told the court on Friday that the alleged claim that Michael Schumacher can walk again is false and simply not true,” Damm said. “Michael cannot even stand with the help of his special therapists. I cannot make any other comments about Michael's health condition."
Damm initially revealed such details at a German court when the Schumacher's family lawsuit against the Die Bunte magazine was being discussed.
The news outlet reportedly published false details in a December 2015 story, saying that Schumacher is currently recovering at an impressive pace and is capable of making small steps with the aid of his assistants.
However, such claims were immediately slammed by the German racer’s longtime manager Sabine Kehm, stating that the reports were erroneous and irresponsible and that these only sought to bring on false hopes to all the people involved, New York Daily News reported.
“Speculation is irresponsible, because given the seriousness of his injuries, his privacy is very important,” Kehm said to disprove the story. “Unfortunately, (Die Bunte) also gave false hopes to many involved people.”
Schumacher’s family went with the decision to sue the magazine for publishing false claims and for intruding into their private matters. The final outcome on the lawsuit will be anticipated in October 2016.
Based on the report of The Telegraph, the Schumacher family is asking €40,000-€100,000 for the invasion of the racer’s privacy.
After his disastrous Alps accident, the retired racing car driver underwent two critical brain surgeries and was later on placed on a medically-induced coma in France.
Eventually, he was taken in at the Lausanne hospital before being transferred to his Switzerland home.
Named as one of the greatest Formula One drivers of all time, Schumacher is now reportedly receiving first-class medical care at his house with a team of medical specialists who provide around-the-clock medical support. In a report by The Express, it was reported that the homecare costs have reached approximately $150,000 a week.
"I’m very pleased to know that he is reacting,” Luca di Montezemolo said to CNN in May. “I know how strong he is. I'm sure that thanks to his determination — which will be crucial — he will come out from this very, very difficult situation.”
Schumacher bagged a record of seven Formula One world titles for Benetton and then for Ferrari from 1994 through 2004.
The father-of-two went into his first retirement at the end of the 2006 season, although he came back with Mercedes to F1 in 2010.
