Michael Schumacher’s ‘extremely demanding’ medical situation described in nurse rape trial
Warning: This article contains discussion of rape which some readers may find distressing.
It's been well over a decade since we last saw Michael Schumacher in public but the ongoing court case regarding one of his former nurses has given us a glimpse into his medical needs.
The F1 legend suffered a traumatic brain injury while skiing in the French Alps back in December 2013, just a year after the racer retired for the second time.
Fans of Formula One have heard very little from the German driver in the 13 years since, with his signature on a charity racing helmet perhaps the closest we've come to any sort of public appearance.
Schumacher is cared for by his wife and a team of round-the-clock health professionals, which included a nurse who claimed that she was raped while unconscious at a cocktail party in the family's home in Switzerland back in 2019.
Late last year, the accused rapist was named as fellow racing driver Joey Mawson, who was banned from racing for three years in 2023 over doping allegations.
Mawson was a former friend of Schumacher's son Mick, and the 30-year-old has denied all the allegations against him and claimed that his sex with the nurse was consensual.
During the trial yesterday (2 June), the nurse's lawyer shed a light on some of the intense work that was expected of her while she worked for Schumacher's family, before she lost her job there in an unrelated incident.
Speaking to the court, he said: “It’s an extremely demanding job, both physically and emotionally.”
He added that Schumacher’s tragic skiing accident had a daily impact on everyone in his orbit.
“Added to that is the culture of silence surrounding this family. That’s understandable,” the lawyer continued.
“But for the employees, who aren’t even allowed to talk to their friends about their daily lives, the pressure is enormous.”
“I say this because it shows how seriously and passionately she performed her work. She was entrusted with the most difficult tasks.
“She stepped in when staff were needed, she filled the gaps.”
The secrecy is somewhat unsurprising, especially after the helicopter pilot who originally rescued Schumacher spoke out recently about his orders to keep things secret after rushing the sporting icon to hospital.
He added: “This is no ordinary profession. There are countless articles about what happens in this house and how the champion (Michael Schumacher) is doing.
“It is a test, an enormous amount of pressure, which she masters perfectly. She is impeccable.”
“The Schumacher family themselves say that her work is perfect.”
Despite Mawson's insistence that the sex was consensual, the court were also shown texts in which he apologised to her the following morning.
They read: “I’m so sorry from the bottom of my heart. I’m so sorry for the pain I’m causing you.
“I hadn’t realised how drunk I actually was. It wasn’t until the next morning that I realised how drunk I had been. During the night, I had assumed she was less drunk than I realised the next morning.”
The verdict of the case is set to be announced on Friday (5 June).
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact the Rape Crisis England and Wales helpline on 0808 500 222, available 24/7. If you are currently in danger or need urgent medical attention, you should call 999.
James Moorhouse