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Michael Schumacher: fans gather with letters and banners on 45th birthday Michael Schumacher: fans gather with letters and banners on 45th birthday
(about 1 hour later)
Michael Schumacher had intended to spend his 45th birthday surrounded by friends in his chalet in the ski resort of Méribel. His management had earmarked the date to relaunch his website, showcasing the record-breaking Formula One champion's life after retiring from competitive sport. But instead, Schumacher was on Friday lying in a critical but stable condition a clinic at the foot of the French Alps, as fans gathered outside the hospital to mark his birthday. Michael Schumacher had intended to spend his 45th birthday surrounded by friends in his chalet in the ski resort of Méribel. His management had earmarked the date to relaunch his website, showcasing the record-breaking Formula One champion's life after retiring from competitive sport. But instead, Schumacher wason Friday lying in a critical but stable condition a clinic at the foot of the French Alps, as fans gathered outside the hospital to mark his birthday.
Schumacher has been in an induced coma since suffering a severe brain trauma in a skiing accident just after 11am on Sunday, only about 500 metres from his high-security chalet. After the accident, he was airlifted first to a hospital in Moutiers then to a specialist clinic in Grenoble, where doctors managed to stabilise his condition by reducing the swelling of his brain.Schumacher has been in an induced coma since suffering a severe brain trauma in a skiing accident just after 11am on Sunday, only about 500 metres from his high-security chalet. After the accident, he was airlifted first to a hospital in Moutiers then to a specialist clinic in Grenoble, where doctors managed to stabilise his condition by reducing the swelling of his brain.
On Friday, fans and family gathered at the hospital in the hope of good news. Schumacher's wife Corinna, brother Ralf, father Rold, son Mick and daughter Gina-Maria have spent much of the past few days and nights at his bedside. At around 10:30am, the first bus with about 100 Italian Ferrari fans pulled up in the driving rain. Mostly clad in red-and-white gear and carrying flags and banners, they had gathered to show their "silent support". On Friday, fans and family gathered at the hospital in the hope of good news. Schumacher's wife Corinna, brother Ralf, father Rold, son Mick and daughter Gina-Maria have spent much of the past few days and nights at his bedside. At around 10.30am, the first bus with about 100 Italian Ferrari fans pulled up in the driving rain. Mostly clad in red-and-white gear and carrying flags and banners, they had gathered to show their "silent support".
Schumacher had won five of his seven Formula One titles for the car manufacturer based in Maranello. "Schumi, all our thoughts for you and your family," read one of the banners. Some fans were carrying letters addressed to him. Another 400-500 fans are expected to arrive throughout the day, and a minute's silence is planned for 2pm. Schumacher had won five of his seven Formula One titles for the car manufacturer based in Maranello. "Schumi, all our thoughts for you and your family," read one of the banners. Some fans were carrying letters addressed to him. Another 400-500 fans expected to arrive throughout the day, and a minute's silence is planned for 2pm.
Over the course of the week, fans from around the world had expressed their support. News of the accident dominated the headlines across Europe. In India, TV schedules were interrupted to give updates on the German driver's condition. China's state press agency, Xinhua, wished the racing driver "gute Besserung", or a speedy recovery, in German. In London, the footballer Jack Wilshere tweeted a picture from Arsenal football club's dressing room of the team holding up a sign saying "Get well Schumi". Over the course of the week, fans from around the world had expressed their support. News of the accident dominated the headlines across Europe. In India, TV schedules were interrupted to give updates on the German driver's condition. China's state press agency, Xinhua, wished him "gute Besserung", or a speedy recovery, in German. In London, the footballer Jack Wilshere tweeted a picture from Arsenal's dressing room of the team holding a sign saying "Get well Schumi".
On Thursday, Schumacher's family had released a message via his website, expressing gratitude for the support they had received. "We all know that Michael is a fighter and won't give up," it said. "Thank you."
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/>When the gravity of Schumacher's condition first became apparent, many had interpreted the accident as the tale of a kind of modern Icarus, a man who had discovered the thrill of speed and found he couldn't let go even after his retirement. His former manager Willi Weber had once described Schumacher as an "adrenaline junkie". 		On Thursday, Schumacher's family had released a message via his website, expressing gratitude for the support they had received. "We all know that Michael is a fighter and won't give up," it said. "Thank you."
But as more details of the accident have emerged, the picture has become more complicated. Sabine Kehm, his manager, a former sports journalist who has worked with the driver for the past 14 years, denied reports that Schumacher had been skiing at "high speed" and said he had only ventured into the area between the two pistes "Biche" and "Mauduit" because he had stopped beforehand, to help one of his friend's daughters, who had taken a tumble on the slopes. When the gravity of Schumacher's condition first became apparent, many had interpreted the Sabine Kehm, Schumacher's manager, a former sports journalist who has worked with the driver for the past 14 years, denied reports that he had been skiing at "high speed" and said he had only ventured into the area between the two pistes Biche and Mauduit because he had stopped beforehand, to help one of his friend's daughters, who had taken a tumble on the slopes.
After pushing himself off, Schumacher had hit a snow-covered rock and lost balance, hitting another rock head-first, his helmet splitting on impact. What at first had looked like deliberate risk-taking now increasingly looks more like an unfortunate accident. After pushing himself off, Schumacher had hit a snow-covered rock and lost balance, hitting another rock head-first, his helmet splitting on impact. What at first had looked like deliberate risk-taking now looks more like an unfortunate accident.
French investigators said they would interview Kehm to establish the exact cause of the accident, the Grenoble-based newspaper Dauphiné Libéré reported on Thursday. French investigators said they would interview Kehm to establish the exact cause of the accident, the Grenoble-based newspaper Dauphiné Libéré reported on Thursday.
Five years ago, on Schumacher's 40th birthday, the tabloid Bild had run a long interview, in which other athletes were able to ask the driver questions. Responding to a question about his passion for motorbiking, Schumacher had said: "If you are in control of something, you can also calculate the risk. And the remaining risk, which you can't calculate, you get that anywhere in life. That's fate. That's how I see it." Five years ago, on Schumacher's 40th birthday, the tabloid Bild had run a long interview, in which other athletes were able to ask the driver questions. Responding to a question about his passion for motorbiking, Schumacher had said: "If you are in control of something, you can also calculate the risk. And the remaining risk, which you can't calculate, you get that anywhaccident as the tale of a kind of modern Icarus, a man who had discovered the thrill of speed and found he couldn't let go even after his retirement. His former manager Willi Weber had once described Schumacher as an "adrenaline junkie".
But as more details of the accident have emerged, the picture has become more complicated. ere in life. That's fate. That's how I see it."
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