Michael Schumacher rescue pilot reveals what happened after devastating skiing accident
The helicopter pilot who responded to Michael Schumacher's 2013 ski crash has spoken out about saving his life.
Just a year after he retired from Formula 1, Schumacher suffered a life-changing injury after he fell and hit his head on a rock while skiing off-piste in the French Alps.
Although Schumacher had been wearing a helmet at the time of his accident, the crash left the 57-year-old with a traumatic brain injury, leaving him in a medically induced coma.
Since then, Schumacher has retired from public life completely, with the exact status of his health kept a closely guarded secret by his closest family and friends.
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A few details have emerged in the 13 years after the crash, such as reports that Schumacher is unable to communicate verbally and is able to sit up in a wheelchair at his homes in Switzerland and Mallorca.
However, those involved in the aftermath of the accident have shared their memories from the day, with helicopter rescue pilot Yannick Dainese recalling the moment he learned he was attending to Schumacher's crash in an interview with L'Equipe.
"A rescuer jumped out of the helicopter with the doctor and said to me, 'We’re going to Schumacher!'" Dainese explained, adding that he initially thought the man was joking.
"But when the commander ordered us to remove our microphones and GoPros, and to forbid journalists from accompanying us, I understood that it was true."
Dainese went on to explain that while he'd felt 'pressure' attending to someone as high-profile as Schumacher, he was ultimately 'just another seriously injured person'.
With the slope completely locked down from the public, Dainese and his team were able to work without distraction, transporting Schumacher to a hospital in Grenoble for care.
What is Netflix's newest Michael Schumacher documentary about?
Although the Schumacher family have kept the exact nature of his condition private, interest in the driver's life and career remains.
Earlier this week, Netflix released Schumacher '94, which details his first Drivers' Championship win with Benetton.
While the documentary focuses on Schumacher's early driving career and omits any new updates about his current state of health, it does feature some tear-jerking moments.
The harrowing events of April 1994's San Marino Grand Prix at Imola are recounted through archival footage, including the crashes which claimed the lives of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger.
Schumacher and his wife Corinna are also seen grappling with the tragedies, with the German driver even considering retirement after witnessing Senna's fatal accident.
The closest Corinna comes to giving an update on her husband is the revelation that she cries when hearing Paula Abdul's song 'Rush Rush' as she associates it with her husband.
"That was our song back then. When I hear that song now and I'm in the car, I have to cry," she explained.
Schumacher '94 - The Birth of a Legend is available to stream on Netflix.
Topics: Michael Schumacher, Celebrity, Netflix
Brenna Cooper