Skiing is indeed a fun activity that happens to be on many people’s bucket lists when they visit ski resorts. However, sometimes when fate takes a turn, this adrenaline-pumped ski ride might result in a brutal accident. While tourism around resorts has drastically increased, despite high safety standards, skiing accidents are still on the rise.

Indeed, these situations can be extremely brutal and have the potential to claim lives. Once, a Formula 1 legend experienced a similar incident that caught the world completely off guard. Yes, his popularity caused many to be devastated and concerned about him and his family, who are estimated to be worth around $600 million, after a fun skiing trip turned into an absolute disaster, nearly taking his life.

The skiing accident that left many traumatized

Seven-time F1 World Champion Michael Schumacher was involved in a serious skiing accident on December 29, 2013. In this incident, he hit his head on a rock in Meribel, France. This brutal accident left him in a coma for almost a year, until June 16, 2014. Schumacher ended his F1 career at the Brazilian Grand Prix in 2012, gifting fellow German driver Sebastian Vettel his third title after letting him pass around the final laps of the race. Yes, he was indeed enjoying his retirement life alongside his kids and wife, Corinna.

Since the accident, Schumacher’s close associates have maintained their privacy by being secretive about his life. Therefore, there is limited information available about the subsequent events. However, while protecting her husband’s privacy, Corinna hasn’t left his fans in the dark, as she once offered a glimpse of their conversation before heading to ski in the resort. Indeed, if fate had something else planned, in whatever condition Schumacher is now, it could’ve been prevented by just a simple twist of decision.

As reported by Mirror, speaking to Netflix, Corinna unveiled their discussion, stating, “Shortly before it happened in Meribel, he said to me: ‘The snow isn’t optimal. We could fly to Dubai and go skydiving there.’” Only if the family had moved to their other destination, things could’ve been different for them, and maybe the racing star would’ve still been in contact with his fans directly, especially watching his son, Mick, become an F2 champion and drive an F1 car in his racing career.

“Since the accident, of course, these experiences, these moments that I believe many people have with their parents, are no longer present, or to a lesser extent. And in my view, that is a little unfair. I think dad and me, we would understand each other in a different way now. Simply because we speak a similar language, the language of motorsport. And that we would have much more to talk about,” said son Mick Schumacher. Indeed, he misses his father to date, and there are moments he wishes he could share with one of the most special people in his life.

“I have never blamed God for what happened. It was just really bad luck, all the bad luck anyone can have in life. It’s always terrible when you say: ‘Why is this happening to Michael or us?’ But then why does it happen to other people? Of course, I miss Michael every day. But it’s not just me who misses him. The children, the family, his father, everyone around him. I mean, everybody misses Michael,” said the wife of the seven-time F1 world champion focusing on the skiing accident. Indeed, the pain that he endured left many out there heartbroken. But what made this incident so impactful? The greatness he left behind.

Michael Schumacher’s legacy is much more than racing

Who is Michael Schumacher? This statement was once a viral meme on the internet, eventually featuring the German motorsport legend in many edits from his massive fanbase. 91 race wins, seven F1 world championships, and many more are what Schumacher achieved in his career. Furthermore, he was a track sweetheart, as many adored him and were inspired to be like him. His most notable accolade? Schumacher did the impossible. He led the most historic F1 team back to the top, Ferrari, in 2000.

The prancing horse had struggled to win a driver’s championship for a long time, but finally, they tasted their very first title after 21 years with the help of the German. He was not a typical driver on the grid, but his charisma and talent enabled him to attract notable engineers to the team. He also sat alongside the team to work on the cars, which eventually led to Ferrari’s domination from 2000 to 2004. Yes, he was a Ferrari world champion—an accolade much greater than being just a world champion.

After achieving so much with the prancing horses, he announced his retirement in 2006 after losing two consecutive world championships to Fernando Alonso. However, he came back to the grid in 2010 with Mercedes. He was a perfect fit for the German manufacturer to make their moves in the sport. Owing to his experience, he was a vital part of the Brackley-based outfit’s R&D. Eventually, after he retired again for the final time in 2012, Mercedes started their domination in 2014 alongside Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

Indeed, Michael Schumacher’s legacy extended beyond the realm of racing. He brought people together and formed a camaraderie that lasted for a long time. While he had rivals on the grid, that rivalry was limited to racing, as everyone had nothing but respect for the German motorsport legend. Danke, Michael! Hope you get well soon and be a light to your fanbase all over again.