For a decade, Michael Schumacher’s wife has been his carer. Friends say she's 'like a prisoner'.

Ever since Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher suffered a brain injury as a result of a skiing accident in 2013, his wife, Corinna Schumacher, has been by his side, shielding him from the spotlight.

His health has remained largely shrouded in secrecy, Corinna determined not to share any information about her husband's condition with the world. Only in recent years have people close to the Schumacher family begun to share insights on how their lives look now. 

This week, former team boss Eddie Jordan said Corrina now lives "like a prisoner" as she continues to look after Schumacher and maintain all privacy. But she, too, has reportedly shut herself away from the outside world.

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"This was the most horrific situation for (son) Mick and Corinna," Eddie told The Sun. 

"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."

Jordan also said that, along with many of Michael's friends and former colleagues, he has not been allowed to visit the former racecar driver, as per the Schumacher family's rules. 

"No visitations for anyone at that moment except the actual direct family," said Jordan, who added that his "love for him [Schumacher] still lasts and will always do so while I'm able to draw breaths."

Jordan has since been contacted by Schumacher's son, he said.

"Mick Schumacher - Michael's son - has reached out to me, and he has been extraordinary."

The 2013 accident was incredibly traumatic. 

Schumacher and Mick were skiing in the French Alps on December 29. It is understood Schumacher was not going at a great speed, but he lost control and was thrown more than 10 metres before hitting the right side of his head on a rock. The force split open his helmet.

Following the accident, Schumacher was placed in a medically induced coma for six months as doctors worked to save the racing champion.

Schumacher is now wheelchair-bound, unable to stand alone, and can no longer speak. Since the accident, he has been living at the family's home on Lake Geneva in Switzerland. 

Back in 2015, we learned that he had reacted to the voices of his wife Corinna and their children, shedding a tear when he heard his family's voices. Ever since, his progress has remained slow.

Although Schumacher's two children - 26-year-old accomplished equestrian Gina and 24-year-old racing driver Mick - have occasionally spoken about their father's condition, Corinna hadn't talked about her husband's health status since the incident occurred in 2013.

That is, until very recently.

The 2022 Netflix documentary Schumacher highlighted his career success and featured a rare interview with Corinna. It remains the first and only film supported by the family.

"Everybody misses Michael, but Michael is here. Different, but here. He still shows me how strong he is every day," Corinna said in the documentary.

"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."

Michael and Corinna Schumacher before the accident. Image: Getty.

She said that she "never blamed God" for the accident, saying it came down to "really bad luck".

"I miss Michael every day. But it's not just me who misses him. It's the children, the family, his father, everyone around him."

Last year, Corinna was accused of hiding "the truth" by Schumacher's former long-term manager, Willi Weber.

"I know that Michael has been hit hard, but unfortunately I do not know what progress he makes," he said in a German documentary. 

"She's probably afraid that I'll see right away what's going on and make the truth public."

The Schumacher family made another rare statement, saying Schumacher remains in the "very best hands" and that they are doing "everything humanly possible to help him".

As Corinna said in the recent documentary, "'Private is private', as he always said. It's very important to me that he can continue to enjoy his private life as much as possible. Michael always protected us and now we are protecting Michael."

One of the only non-family members allowed to visit Schumacher since the accident has been his former Ferrari boss, Jean Todt.

In September 2019, Todt shared a positive update.

"I'm always careful with such statement, but it's true. I saw the [Formula 1] race with Michael Schumacher at his home in Switzerland. Michael is in the best hands and is well looked after in his house," he said to Radio Monte-Carlo.

"He does not give up and keeps fighting. His family is fighting just as much and of course, our friendship cannot be the same as it once was. Just because there's no longer the same communication as before. He continues to fight. And his family is fighting the same way."

Feature Image: Getty.