ONE of Michael Schumacher's closest friends has dealt a fresh blow to his devoted fans in a tragic update on his ten-year health battle.
The Formula One legend, 54, has been kept out of the public eye since his horror skiing crash, and his family maintains strict privacy around his condition.
The seven-time world champion was air-lifted to hospital after tripping on the snow and hitting his head on a rock in 2013.
But no-one besides his close family have seen Schumacher since, nor have any photos of the German been released.
However, Formula 1 journalist Roger Benoit has provided a saddening update on the health of one of his closest friends.
When asked by Swiss newspaper Blick to provide a specific update on Schumacher, he refused and said: "No.
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"There is only one answer to this question and that is what his son Mick gave in one of his rare interviews in 2022: "I would give anything to talk to dad".
"This sentence says everything about how his father has been doing for over 3,500 days. A case without hope."
The harrowing confession on the 54-year-old offers an insight into the pain that his closest friends and family have had to deal with.
Following that skiing accident in the French Alps in 2013, Schumacher spent 250 days in a medically-induced coma in hospital.
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Even since he was eventually permitted to return home, few have seen or visited him, and reports of the German's condition are extremely rare.
Some friends and even family members have been kept in the dark by those closest to him in an effort to prevent leaks to the press.
Schumacher's son, Mick, continued the family's legacy of F1 drivers when competing for Haas in 2021 and 2022.
He is now a reserve driver for Mercedes and McLaren but one thing remains on his mind.
"I think dad and me, we would understand each other in a different way now," he said last year.
"We would have had much more to talk about and that is where my head is most of the time, thinking that would be so cool.
"I would give up everything just for that.
"These moments that I believe many people have with their parents are no longer present, or to a lesser extent."
Schumacher's wife, Corinna, offered a small but powerful update on her husband's health during the 2021 Netflix documentary about the German.
An emotional Corinna said: "Michael is here. Different, but he’s here, and that gives us strength, I find.
"We’re together. 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 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.
"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?"
The 54-year-old has been so determined to prevent leaks of her husband's condition that she has even prevented their closest friends from visiting.
That includes F1 icon Eddie Jordan, who was told by Corinna he could not see Michael.
He told OLBG in March: "This was the most horrific situation for Mick and Corinna.
"It's been nearly 10 years now and Corinna has not been able to go to a party, to lunch or this or that.
"She's like a prisoner because everyone would want to talk to her about Michael when she doesn't need reminding of it every minute.
"I know her very well and a long time before Michael Schumacher.
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"She’s a lovely girl and I knew her when she married Michael so there is a long history of good relations.
"I made an effort to go see Michael in the early days and Corinna refused, and rightfully so because too many people wanted to go see him."
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