Michael Schumacher paralyzed, speech impaired: friend

Seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher is paralyzed and has memory problems from brain injuries sustained in an accident last year, a friend of his was quoted as telling French media, reported the Guardian newspaper.

Philippe Streiff, a former Formula One driver who was himself left in a wheelchair by a crash, was quoted as saying that Schumacher was “getting better but everything is relative. It’s very difficult. He can’t speak.

“Like me he is in a wheelchair, paralyzed. He has memory problems and speech problems.”

In December 2013, Schumacher suffered head injuries in a skiing accident and was placed in an induced coma by doctors. He was moved to his home in September after spending nine months in hospital.

One of the doctors treating him has said the 45-year-old may need years to recover.

“It is like for other patients. We are in a time scale of one to three years, so you need patience,” Jean-Francois Payen said in October.