Michael Schumacher health latest after helicopter pilot breaks silence on F1 icon

Yannick Dainese, who was working in the French Alps on the day of the accident in December 2013, has spoken publicly about the operation for the first time, recalling the moment he realised Schumacher was the injured skier.

Speaking to French newspaper L'Equipe, Dainese revealed he initially struggled to believe what he had been told.

"A rescuer jumped out of the helicopter with the doctor and said to me: 'We're going to Schumacher!'" he said.

"At first I thought he was joking."

Dainese explained that the seriousness of the situation quickly became apparent when strict measures were put in place around the rescue operation.

"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," he added.

The pilot was tasked with transporting Schumacher from the slopes near the resort of Méribel to hospital in Grenoble after the German suffered a severe head injury while skiing.

Although Schumacher's identity brought added attention to the mission, Dainese insisted his focus remained on helping a critically injured patient.

"Subconsciously, the pressure was there because I knew he was worshipped like a god," he said.

"But for me, he was just another seriously injured person."

Schumacher was placed into a medically induced coma following the accident and underwent emergency surgery as doctors fought to save his life.

Since then, very little official information about the 57-year-old's condition has been released.

His wife, Corinna Schumacher, has consistently protected the family's privacy, allowing only a small circle of relatives, close friends and medical professionals access to the Formula One icon.

The latest widely reported details regarding Schumacher's condition emerged earlier this year.

According to the Daily Mail, Schumacher spends time between the family's home in Gland, Switzerland, and a property in Majorca, Spain, where specialist medical care is available.

The reports suggested Schumacher is not bedridden but remains unable to walk independently and requires the use of a wheelchair.

Only a handful of people outside the family are believed to have regular access to Schumacher.

Among them is former Ferrari team principal Jean Todt, who has maintained a close relationship with the German since their years together in Formula One.

Todt has previously spoken about continuing to watch races alongside Schumacher, though he has respected the family's wishes by declining to discuss specific details about his condition.

Speculation has frequently surrounded Schumacher's health in the years since the accident, but confirmed information remains scarce.

Corinna Schumacher addressed the situation in a 2021 Netflix documentary, offering one of the rare public insights into the family's life.

"Michael is here. Different, but he's here, and that gives us strength," she said.

"We live together at home. We do therapy. We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he's comfortable.

"And no matter what, I will do everything I can."

More than a decade on from the accident, Schumacher's family continue to honour the privacy that the former driver valued throughout his life.

While Dainese's recollections have provided a new perspective on the dramatic events of December 2013, Schumacher's day-to-day condition remains known only to those closest to one of the greatest drivers Formula One has ever seen.