The helicopter pilot who helped transport Michael Schumacher to hospital after his devastating skiing accident has broken his silence more than 12 years on, revealing he initially thought the rescue mission was a joke.
Pilot Recalls Disbelief at Schumacher Rescue Call
Yannick Dainese, a pilot for SAF Hélicoptères, was on duty in December 2013 when the Formula 1 legend suffered a traumatic brain injury while skiing in the French Alps. Speaking for the first time to L'Equipe, Dainese described the moment he learned who needed help.
“A rescuer jumped out of the helicopter with the doctor and said to me, ‘We’re going to Schumacher!’” Dainese recalled. “At first I thought he was joking. But when the commander ordered us to remove our microphones and GoPros, and to forbid journalists from accompanying us, I understood that it was true.”
Although not a Formula 1 enthusiast, Dainese was well aware of Schumacher's fame. “Subconsciously, the pressure was there because I knew he was worshipped like a god,” he said. “But for me, he was just another seriously injured person.”
Schumacher's Condition Remains Private
Schumacher, now 57, was placed in an induced coma for six months following the crash. Details of his health have been closely guarded by his family ever since. He has not been seen in public since the accident and is understood to receive round-the-clock care at the family home on Lake Geneva, with only a select few permitted to visit.
Hospital Scene Resembled a Grand Prix
Dainese returned to the hospital days later and was stunned by the scene. “What I saw shocked me: there were so many buses, red flags, and people everywhere that the hospital grounds had been transformed into a Formula 1 circuit. It was unbelievable,” he said.
The pilot's account offers a rare glimpse into the immediate aftermath of one of sport's most tragic accidents, as the world waited for news on the seven-time world champion.
