25 replies to this topic

[Michael Ferner]

He may not be everybody's cuppa tea, especially around here, but spare a thought or two for Michael Schumacher tonight. He hit his head in a skiing accident this morning, and his condition has - apparently - worsened dramatically. Right now, he is undergoing surgery for a cerebral hemorrhage, it seems. As somebody said, this is like a lottery; he may come out of it perfectly all right, or he may even die. I can't help thinking of Mark Donohue all the time!

[Doug Nye]

Indeed - the standard setter of his time - unsure of the latest news regarding his condition but spare him a thought and, if that is your way, perhaps a prayer this evening.

 

DCN

[Rudernst]

oh my god !!!!!!!!!!!

 

I am shocked and hope he survives and makes a full recovery

 

Rudolf

[DrivenF1]

He may not be everybody's cuppa tea, especially around here, but spare a thought or two for Michael Schumacher tonight. He hit his head in a skiing accident this morning, and his condition has - apparently - worsened dramatically. Right now, he is undergoing surgery for a cerebral hemorrhage, it seems. As somebody said, this is like a lottery; he may come out of it perfectly all right, or he may even die. I can't help thinking of Mark Donohue all the time!

 

Not your fault at all but on the side of the main forum page it looks misleading with your avatar (smiling face).

[B Squared]

I can't help thinking of Mark Donohue....

My first reaction too. Let's hope for a different ending.

[arttidesco]

Having received a few knocks on the head requiring medical attention during the course of my own life, I wish Micheal a full recovery.

[D-Type]

All I can say is I hope he has a quick and full recovery.

[ensign14]

I can't help thinking of Mark Donohue all the time!

And Philippe Favre. The lessons of Donohue's accident will have been learned, at least.

[doc knutsen]

And Philippe Favre. The lessons of Donohue's accident will have been learned, at least.

Mark Donohue's accident was in 1975 - that is 38 years ago. Both diagnostic technology, and range of treatment for cerebral injury has improved a great deal in those years. Make no mistake, Michael's injuries are very serious indeed, and may yet prove fatal. But his chances of pulling through to-day would be a great deal better than what they were all those years ago.

[f1steveuk]

My former F1 colleague has posted this, which I think brings home the seriousness of the situation.

 

http://formerf1doc.w...ference-take-1/

[JoBo]

All I can say is I hope he has a quick and full recovery.

 

I wish him all the very best - but its unlikely that he will be the same person again he was prior to the accident. It would be a wonder if he fully recovers!

 

We will not see the greatest racing driver of all time for a very long period!     

 

JoBo

[doc knutsen]

I wish him all the very best - but its unlikely that he will be the same person again he was prior to the accident. It would be a wonder if he fully recovers!

 

We will not see the greatest racing driver of all time for a very long period!     

 

JoBo

Remember Wendlinger's injuries at Monaco in 1994.

[Richard Jenkins]

And da Matta at ElkhartLake. Both I thought were doomed but both continue living a full life- hopefully Michael will too.

[Magoo]

Wishing him a full recovery and comfort for his family. 

[eldougo]

Schumacher 'could be in coma for life'

Mat Mackay, WWOS & AAP

07:00 AEST Thu Jan 16 2014

   

     

 This is something i did not want to hear.

 

Fears appear to be growing for Formula One great Michael Schumacher, with reports he could be in a coma for the rest of his life.

Two German media outlets are reporting that his condition remains so grave that doctors currently have no plans to wake him.

The 44-year-old has been in an artificially induced state of unconsciousness for 18 days, with medics hoping a reduced supply of oxygen to the brain will help it recover from injuries sustained during a ski accident on December 29.

But Schumacher is reportedly not progressing very well.

"There may have been complications", said neurosurgeon Andreas Zieger of the University Clinic for neurosurgery in Oldenburg to Focus magazine.

"We should not speculate here. Ultimately, we are talking about life and death. A coma can in theory be maintained for a lifetime. It won’t hurt the human brain."

Last week, investigators probing Schumacher's accident ruled out faulty skis, inadequate signage and excessive speed as possible causes of his life-threatening off-piste fall in the French Alps.

They said signs marking the edge of the piste Schumacher skied off just before the accident were in line with legal requirements, his rented skis were in perfect condition, and the Formula One legend had appeared in control of his speed.

Much has been said about a camera that Schumacher had strapped onto his helmet at the time of the accident, and investigators said they had been able to retrieve the footage and look at it.

The footage on the camera lasted only two minutes

A flight attendant had also claimed to have inadvertently caught Schumacher's fall on his smartphone while he filmed his girlfriend on the slopes, though investigators are still to see such vision and remain "doubtful" of the claim.

Schumacher appears to have skied on a partially covered rock, lost his balance and fallen on another rock further down. The impact was so strong it split his helmet in two.

The accident shocked Schumacher's legions of fans and devastated his wife Corinna and two teenage children.

Schumacher dominated Formula One before retiring in 2012, winning more titles than any other driver and enjoying 91 Grand Prix victories between 1994 and 2004.

Edited by eldougo, 15 January 2014 - 23:14.

[Jack-the-Lad]

Well.  That was depressing. 

[PCC]

 

"We should not speculate here."

I think that's the key sentence. This reads like an attempt to generate a "news" story when there is, in fact, no news.

Edited by PCC, 16 January 2014 - 01:06.

[Michael Ferner]

Well, most of you will have read the news that Schumacher has woken up, and while the fanboys over at the RC forum predictably go ape over it (the corresponding thread over there has hit page 67!), the actual press bulletin in its original German language leaves a very chilly perspective. To be precise, it doesn't specify when exactly he actually woke up and/or was taken out of intensive care, and even appears to imply that this may have happened a while ago already, but the core of the message is: "This is it. Now, leave us alone, or else..." While certainly understandable from the family's point of view, one can hardly fight the feeling that we've seen and heard the last of Michael Schumacher, if not forever, then at least for a very long time, years maybe. Never cared much about the man, but this is a cruel fate indeed... 

[D-Type]

You can find a hype and spin-free medical opinion here.  I fear we will see a slow and limited recovery and probably won't see him in public again.

Edited by D-Type, 17 June 2014 - 18:28.

[kayemod]

You can find a hype and spin-free medical opinion here here.  I fear we will see a slow and limited recovery and probably won't see him in public again.

 

You're right Duncan, a hype and spin-free medical opinion, and from a highly respected man in Gary Hartstein, but it's no surprise what some of the UK popular press have made of it, adding two & two and coming up with about twenty seven. It's all been reported sensibly in The Times, Telegraph & Guardian, I've only had time and inclination to have a quick look at one of the less serious papers, which sadly was The Daily Mail. The DM story almost suggests that MS will be skiing and doing difficult crosswords in time, but what struck me was the reaction of DM readers in the comments that followed it, from some, unbridled hatred for Dr Hartstein, flatly refusing to believe what he says, but I suppose that's the inevitable result of giving fanboys news that they don't want to hear. Gary Hartstein worked with the late Syd Watkins, so has a pretty fair understanding of severe neurological trauma. The sad facts are that Michael Schumacher's prognosis could hardly be worse. It must be terrible for his real friends and family, and I hope that the fate of Moshe Dayan, kept alive in a persistent vegetative state for eight years following a severe stroke, isn't going to be repeated.

[Siddley]

You're right Duncan, a hype and spin-free medical opinion, and from a highly respected man in Gary Hartstein, but it's no surprise what some of the UK popular press have made of it, adding two & two and coming up with about twenty seven. It's all been reported sensibly in The Times, Telegraph & Guardian, I've only had time and inclination to have a quick look at one of the less serious papers, which sadly was The Daily Mail. The DM story almost suggests that MS will be skiing and doing difficult crosswords in time, but what struck me was the reaction of DM readers in the comments that followed it, from some, unbridled hatred for Dr Hartstein, flatly refusing to believe what he says, but I suppose that's the inevitable result of giving fanboys news that they don't want to hear. Gary Hartstein worked with the late Syd Watkins, so has a pretty fair understanding of severe neurological trauma. The sad facts are that Michael Schumacher's prognosis could hardly be worse. It must be terrible for his real friends and family, and I hope that the fate of Moshe Dayan, kept alive in a persistent vegetative state for eight years following a severe stroke, isn't going to be repeated.

 

 I think you have Moshe Dayan mixed up with Ariel Sharon

I'm afraid I get my news via the Mail website because it's not behind a paywall and induces a bit less rage in me than the other non paywall papers. Least worst option shall we say.

 

Yes, the readers comments were something else...I hope the mainstream media quietly forget the whole thing, but that's not very likely as most of them are little better than vultures.

 

I bet Dr Hartstein wishes he'd never offered an opinion now, his email inbox must be permanently full of crazy messages.

 

I have to say that I don't really care what happens to Michael Shumacher, I know that sounds harsh but I have a limited amount of empathy and compassion so I save all mine for people who are close to me rather than someone who I have never met.

And kittens, I do like kittens

[kayemod]

 I think you have Moshe Dayan mixed up with Ariel Sharon

 

Yes of course, I was wondering who'd be the first to spot that...

[Charlieman]

Gary Hartstein wrote a difficult and complex story about Michael Schumacher's condition. I'm glad that the link was posted and to have read it. I think it is appropriate to suspend this thread.

[kayemod]

Gary Hartstein wrote a difficult and complex story about Michael Schumacher's condition. I'm glad that the link was posted and to have read it. I think it is appropriate to suspend this thread.

 

I don't agree at all. Most of us on TNF can be trusted to discuss tricky subjects like this in a rational and adult manner. The thread shouldn't be suspended as long as we all behave ourselves.

[Lee Nicolle]

Unfortunatly reading between the lines from his manager he has left hospital for the rehab which is closer to home. He may have been sent there to die, I hope not sincerely but more than a chance. 

At this point I cannot see him making a full recovery but if recovers sufficiently to enjoy life and his family that would be great. 

I have had experience with this with a cousin, never fully recovered but he had about 20 years of assisted living including O/S holidays and the like.

[Charlieman]

I don't agree at all. Most of us on TNF can be trusted to discuss tricky subjects like this in a rational and adult manner. The thread shouldn't be suspended as long as we all behave ourselves.

You may be right, Rob, about the trustworthiness of TNF commentators on the whole. But on reading Hartstein's and the family's words, there is little to discuss. Other than to send our hopeful wishes to Michael's family.