Michael Schumacher's brother, Ralf Schumacher, has explained how the notorious 'fake priest' that tried to sneak into the hospital treating the F1 icon 10 years ago ultimately led to the family restricting access.
Today marks a decade since Schumacher suffered a severe head injury while skiing in France.
After initially being airlifted to a hospital at Moutiers, he was transferred to a specialist trauma unit in Grenoble.
It was in Grenoble where mass hysteria broke out at the hospital with Schumacher's manager Sabine Kehm beseiged by media and journalists at every moment.
Ralf Schumacher has spoken on the 'fake priest' incident
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French doctors treating Schumacher for his head injury gave a press conference to a packed room of journalists soon after his arrival where it was confirmed the F1 icon had suffered a bleed to the brain and was in an artificial coma.
There was a huge clamour for even more information with the hospital struggling to contain everyone.
Someone famously dressed as a priest to try and sneak into Schumacher's hospital room before they were apprehended.
Ralf Schumacher has now recalled the fake priest's unique attempts at getting close to his brother.
And he's suggested it played a huge role in the family's decision to ultimately keep Schumacher's health condition private.
“It was surreal," he told Auto Bild.
"I have never experienced something like that.
"That's why the family quickly decided that Michael's health would be declared a private matter from now on.
"That hasn’t changed to this day.”
The hospital treating Michael Schumacher was mobbed
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The family have kept their word ever since with Schumacher's condition still under wraps.
The 'Schumacher' Netflix documentary was the first time his wife and family spoke at length about the whole situation.
Schumacher's wife, Corinna, offered a brief glimpse into their new life at home in the documentary.
“Michael is here,” Corinna said. “Different, but he’s here, and that gives us strength, I find. We’re together. We live together at home.
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The Schumacher family have kept his health condition private
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"We do therapy. We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he’s comfortable.
"And to simply make him feel our family, our bond.
“And no matter what, I will do everything I can. We all will.
"We’re trying to carry on as a family, the way Michael liked it and still does. And we are getting on with our lives.”
