The first pictures of bed-ridden Formula One legend Michael Schumacher have been smuggled out of his home and offered to a media house for close to $1million (R6.7cr).
The condition of Michael Schumacher, who suffered a brain injury in a skiing accident in late 2013, has been kept largely a secret and the German prosecutors said the latest pictures violate the seven-time world champion’s “personal range of life”.
An alleged friend of Michael Schumacher is reportedly trying to sell a photograph of him for $1.71 million https://t.co/iWalHccgcU
— smh.com.au (@smh) December 19, 2016
Police also suggested the photographer was an acquaintance of Michael Schumacher.
According to the British daily The Sun, the prosecutor’s office in Offenburg, Germany said that “an unknown person” had taken “secret” snaps and were offering them for “high amounts of money”.
Keep Fighting initiative inspired by Michael Schumacher launched #TeamMichael #keepfighting @keepfighting https://t.co/Pla42100Yl pic.twitter.com/3RUvm6D2x2
— Michael Schumacher (@schumacher) December 17, 2016
December 29 will mark the third anniversary of the accident in the French Alps and while speculations are rife about Schumacher’s condition, his family has consistently asked for privacy.
Few details about the champion’s condition have been made public and manager Sabine Kehm said that silence would be maintained.
“Michael’s health is not a public issue, and so we will continue to make no comment in that regard. This is also because we have to protect his intimate sphere,” she said in a statement.
“Michael has always been very protective of his privacy, even during the most successful times of his career. He has always made sure there is a clear and distinct line between his public persona and his private one.”
After the skiing injury in December 2013, Schumacher was placed into a medically induced coma. He regained consciousness by June 2014.
In September 2014, Michael Schumacher was moved to the medial centre at his family home in Geneva where he reportedly remains paralysed.
