Michael Schumacher "hurt in skiing accident"

[Jericoke]

Report says he was probably going at around 60mph and without his helmet he would be dead. That's a lot of speed to hit a rock head first.

That's why I always wear my cycle helmet, my son might smirk, but I'd rather the helmet hit the road than my head.

The silver lining here is that ski helmet technology will probably improve quite quickly.  Schumacher always had the best protection when he was in an F1 car, and now I'm sure he'll have it when he hits the slopes again

[cosworth151]

The Snell Foundation already has standards for skiing & snowboarding helmets.

The Snell Foundation was set up in the late 50's-early 60's. It is named for Harry Snell, a sports car racer who died back then as a result of a faulty helmet. They are a non-profit that rate helmet safety. Originally just for racing, they now rate helmets for cycling, equestrian events and other activities.

I bring this up because I always check for a Snell sticker in any helmet I buy, be it racing, motorcycle, bicycle or snowboard. That way I know the helmet will do its job.

http://www.smf.org/stds

[F1fanaticBD]

Micheal was not fast at all 

http://grandprix247.com/2014/01/01/more-info-emerges-on-circumstances-of-schumacher-ski-accident/

[Ian]

Seems journalists change their tune as much as polititians.

[Scott]

Yeah, now the story is that he was going quite slow, but was on a slope that was a minefield of rocks.  Two operations now.  Hope he recovers.

[Ian]

Totally disgusting, these people(?) have no respect at all.

http://www.news.nom.co/journalist-dressed-up-as-a-priest-in-7630912-news/

[F1fanaticBD]

Being sort of a Lewis fan, I find it difficult why this picture denotes him as "Insensitive", "Arrogant". Can somebody explain please

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/lewis-hamilton-causes-uproar-among-f1-fans-after-posting-skiing-holiday-pictures-in-the-wake-of-michael-schumachers-accident-9032990.html

[Monty]

Being sort of a Lewis fan, I find it difficult why this picture denotes him as "Insensitive", "Arrogant". Can somebody explain please

Didn't you realise that when a celebrity has an accident the rule is that everyone else has to stop doing, talking about or acknowledging even the existence of, the circumstance of said accident! Obviously everyone stopped rallying when Robert Kubica crashed, none of the other F1 drivers rode their pushbikes when Webber broke his leg, etc.

Ludicrous!   

[Monty]

Everyone knows my opinion of Schumacher the F1 driver but I should put on record that I am with the great majority in wishing him a full and speedy recovery. It was obviously just one of the those bizare accidents that can happen to anyone.
He is incredibly fit and and his family have the resources to ensure he gets the very best treatment; so fingers crossed.

[Scott]

Being sort of a Lewis fan, I find it difficult why this picture denotes him as "Insensitive", "Arrogant". Can somebody explain please

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/lewis-hamilton-causes-uproar-among-f1-fans-after-posting-skiing-holiday-pictures-in-the-wake-of-michael-schumachers-accident-9032990.html

That's nuts.  Those pictures show Hamilton on snow shoes and cross country skis...essentially those sports are like walking or jogging. 

Alpine skiing is basically a controlled fall down a mountain. 

What is insensitive is any fan or journalist who could possibly link these pictures to Schumachers situation. 

[Ian]

Monty, you didn't need to put that on record, we all know your opinion of Schumi, but we also know that you wouldn't wish injury or worse on him.

[Jericoke]

Being sort of a Lewis fan, I find it difficult why this picture denotes him as "Insensitive", "Arrogant". Can somebody explain please

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/lewis-hamilton-causes-uproar-among-f1-fans-after-posting-skiing-holiday-pictures-in-the-wake-of-michael-schumachers-accident-9032990.html

That's nuts.  Those pictures show Hamilton on snow shoes and cross country skis...essentially those sports are like walking or jogging. 

Alpine skiing is basically a controlled fall down a mountain. 

What is insensitive is any fan or journalist who could possibly link these pictures to Schumachers situation. 

Indeed.  If anything, this shows that Lewis was taking time to have fun in the snow that DIDN'T involve hurtling at rocks.

It's simply not possible to get going fast enough to hurt yourself in snow shoes.  (If you've never gone snow shoeing, I recommend it.  Especially if you can go with people who have never been, and you enjoy laughing at them with them)

[cosworth151]

Fans are holding a silent vigil outside of the hospital in honor of Schumi's 45th birthday.

http://world.time.com/2014/01/03/michael-schumacher-turns-45-in-a-coma/

[Dare]

I wonder what the prognosis for this type
of injury usually is?Maybe BD might know
a little on this.

[vintly]

Good point - be interested to know if BD can shed more light on it.

From what I've read it varies wildly. Some people make an almost full recovery, some never wake up. Many have life-changing disabilities affecting movement, speech and general brain function. One report posits that he has approximately a 33% chance of a relatively normal life - eventually. Could be months before the extent of the damage is really known.

Our knowledge of how the brain works has come on leaps and bounds in recent years, but we still can't predict how brain lesions will manifest themselves for a recently injured person. Day-to-day monitoring and cross your fingers.