Schumacher son struggles at dad’s ongoing trauma

A family friend has revealed that the grief-stricken son of Formula One legend Michael Schumacher “finds it hard” to deal with his father’s horror injuries.

The 49-year-old seven-time world champion Schumacher has been bedridden since December 2013 due to a skiing accident. The motorsport icon was skiing in the exclusive French Alps resort of Mirabel when he suffered a traumatic brain injury after hitting his head on a rock.

A friend of his son, Mick, who is an aspiring F1 driver currently competing in F3, has revealed he is “completely closed” about his dad’s health.

Nicklas Nielsen told Danish newspaper BT: “Mick does not say he is sad about his father. He just said sometimes that it is hard. I know him very well, also privately. He is a very quiet and calm guy. Very nice and welcoming and he talks to everyone.”

Nielsen suggested Schumacher “may” be recovering but it was too difficult to know for sure.

Schumacher’s family has been very private about the details of the ex-Ferrari star’s condition.

“It may be that Michael is on his way back and will only come out again when he is completely rehabilitated. But it’s hard to say what’s going on.”

The sporting icon reportedly receives $200,000-a-week care at a special medical facility at his Lake Geneva home, adding up to costs which are now expected to have exceeded $35 million. In 2016, his lawyer told a court that Schumacher “cannot walk” in response to speculation in German media about his condition, news.com.au reports.

Last week, details emerged of a letter from Schumacher’s wife giving a rare update on his condition. Corinna Schumacher, 49, described her husband as a “fighter” in a note revealed nearly five years since his ski tragedy.

In the emotional letter, sent at an unknown time to a German musician, Corinna said: “I would like to sincerely thank you for your message and nice gift that will help us through this difficult time. It is good to receive so many kind wishes and other wellintentioned words — which is a great support for our family. We all know Michael is a fighter and will not give up.”

It was written as a reply to Hamburg bandleader Sascha Herchenbach, who had sent the family a recording of a song named “Born To Fight”. He had composed the track in the months after the accident. Herchenbach, 38, revealed the contents of the letter in an interview with Bunte magazine last week.