'CHARD Posted December 29, 2013 Share Posted December 29, 2013 Been doing the rounds for a few hours this story, but the critical nature of the head injury has not long been reported. I'm sure I speak for all when I say my thoughts are with this talented gentleman and his family at this difficult time, and that I wish him a speedy and full recovery. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25545993 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyram Posted December 29, 2013 Share Posted December 29, 2013 I was never a fan of the man as a racing driver. But I can appreciate his talent and hope that he pulls through and makes a full recovery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Re6/6 Posted December 29, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 29, 2013 Indeed I do hope that he pulls through. I've had a few 'wipe outs' over the years, but this sounds horrendous, Let us hope that the helmet saves him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edge Posted December 29, 2013 Share Posted December 29, 2013 IMHO the best ever. Sincerely hope that he recovers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Colin_McLeod Posted December 29, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 29, 2013 Not a racing fan, but I do appreciate his skill and hope and pray that he pulls through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torr Giffard LSWR 1951-71 Posted December 29, 2013 Share Posted December 29, 2013 ....he gave me a lot of pleasure during his Ferrari days....all good wishes to both Michael and his family. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alfsboy Posted December 29, 2013 Share Posted December 29, 2013 i thought he was OK before watching Pirates of the Caribbean so it was a bit of a shock to wake up and find he was critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium The White Rabbit Posted December 29, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 29, 2013 I also hope the media give his family a bit of space and respect their privacy at this difficult time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted December 30, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 30, 2013 The great driver - the most successful of the modern era, possibly ever (although there are far more races these days) - is in a critical condition after a ski-ing accident. Initial diagnosis suggested his head had been well-protected by his ski-helmet, but his condition has worsened. I got very bored with his arrogant domination of the sport, and laughed when his return seasons were a lot less than stellar, but had no wish to see him like this or worse. Let's hope the neurosurgeons can pull him round. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Baron Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 Terrible news... lets hope he pulls through... similar situation to Richard Hammond from what I hear? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'CHARD Posted December 30, 2013 Author Share Posted December 30, 2013 Let's hope so, Ian. We picked up with Schuey last night here too: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/80333-schumacher-in-critical-condition/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted December 30, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 30, 2013 Let's hope so, Ian. We picked up with Schuey last night here too: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/80333-schumacher-in-critical-condition/ Sorry, mate. I did do a search before posting, but the search facility really is pants and found nothing recent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 ....Initial diagnosis suggested his head had been well-protected by his ski-helmet, but his condition has worsened.... Aftermath sounds similar to the late actress Natasha Richardson. She actually got up and walked immediately after the accident, but was dead within three days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jjb1970 Posted December 30, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 30, 2013 We can only hope he pulls through. I was not really a fan of his in his glory days but warmed to him after his first retirement when he seemed to mellow and show a much more lighthearted side of his personality, best wishes to him and his family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
34theletterbetweenB&D Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 Aftermath sounds similar to the late actress Natasha Richardson. She actually got up and walked immediately after the accident, but was dead within three days. Sadly, that was my thought too. There's little in the way of surgical intervention possible beyond relieving immediate pressure from swelling and bleeding, and dropping metabolism by inducing a coma: then it's down to severity of the injuries and whether the body's healing can outrun the incrementing damage. That information from a specialist after an ex- colleague lost her husband this way: he walked with his bike the ten minutes to a local A&E after his fall... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 I found out recently that non-racing approved crash helmets for motorcycle street use (DOT approved in the USA but I bet no different in Europe) are only approved up to a 13 mph impact. Ridiculous you may think - but they only cover a gravity fall from 6 feet i.e. the distance from sitting on a bike to falling to the ground. I believe that the argument is that most lateral impacts are actually of the "sliding" variety. Whatever your thoughts on this (and I have a few) I bet skiing helmets are even "lighter" in weight/protection. Best, Pete. PS Please don't complain to me about DOT requirements; I'm only the messenger - find out what the requirements are for your country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted December 30, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 30, 2013 Maybe a little more info here http://www.pitpass.com/50680/Schumacher-doctors-hold-a-press-conference Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 Schumacher was the best wet-weather driver bar none - I remember him leaving Jacque Veillnueve for dead in one downpour. Schuey hadn't even gone in for wet tyres at the time.... His turn as The Stig on an Episode of Top Gear was great - who says the Germans have no sense of humour? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 I found out recently that non-racing approved crash helmets for motorcycle street use (DOT approved in the USA but I bet no different in Europe) are only approved up to a 13 mph impact. Ridiculous you may think - but they only cover a gravity fall from 6 feet i.e. the distance from sitting on a bike to falling to the ground. I believe that the argument is that most lateral impacts are actually of the "sliding" variety. Whatever your thoughts on this (and I have a few) I bet skiing helmets are even "lighter" in weight/protection. Best, Pete. PS Please don't complain to me about DOT requirements; I'm only the messenger - find out what the requirements are for your country. Helmets are designed for different things: I have a Simpson RX8 (popular with the streetfighter motorcycle fraternity, as well as being popularised by the "original Stig") which was built to conform to the SNELL standards in force at the time of its manufacture. Those standards happened to be somewhat in excess of DoT or even ACU standards, but however good the RX8 is, it is/was only approved here for race driving, not motorcycle use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jjb1970 Posted December 30, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 30, 2013 I'm guessing ski helmets are still better than cycling helmets...I wear a cycling helmet on the assumption that something is better than nothing but looking at it doesn't fill me with any confidence, and it is a pretty high end model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brenn Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 I always bought the best helmet I could find on the basis I only have one head. Polycarbonate were all the rage until it became known that sticker adhesive could soften them and petrol fumes didn't do them any good either Helmets have little to do with it. The speed of impact, if its a side impact (much, much worst) or front/back impact all influence the long term damage done, but long term damage there will be. I think he will properly survive but he will never quite be the same as he was before this accident, and I feel for his family as it is horrible to see a loved one suffering a brain injury. If his gets through this period of injury they all have a long hard road ahead regardless of wealth, or past achievements. I wish them the strength they will need to get through this horrible accident. Brenn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted December 31, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 31, 2013 Latest news is his condition has improved slightly overnight - still not out of danger but heading the right way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenton Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 I wish the man well and a full recovery. However, I cannot help but believe that anyone who goes off piste skiing is rather stupid and gets what is coming to them. Helmets are only designed for minor injury prevention. The problem is that the skull is the primary defence and the brain is easily damaged due to its own freedom to move within the skull. Rapid de-acceleration causes the brain to move and impact within the skull causing bruising and concussion. Placing a helmet around the skull does nothing to prevent that - all it does is limit external impact injuries that can fracture the skull. When helmets were made compulsory for motorcyclists the number of deaths dropped considerably as they limited this external impact. However the number of those injured and surviving with severe brain damage or paralysing neck injury also increased. Is living as a vegetable any better than dying? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 A good racing helmet provides a reasonable deceleration rate to the skull via the liner. They are also expensive... Mind you most military helmets also provide zero protection to direct impacts by high velocity bullets- they do provide some protecion against some shrapnel. Best, Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torr Giffard LSWR 1951-71 Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 ....I think that we can safely assume that his PPE would have been the best available. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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