Michael Schumacher family HELPLESS as courts CAN’T charge man who photographed F1 star
MICHAEL Schumacher’s family have been left devastated after prosecutors revealed they had no way of tracking down the person who leaked first photographs of the star in his hospital bed after his skiing accident.
The former Formula One racing driver has been cared for by a £115k-a-week medical team at his home in Switzerland since 2014 after he was nearly killed in a skiing accident three years ago.
But very little else is known about the seven-time world champion’s condition, which has been held as a closely guarded secret by friends and family.
That is, until now.
Shocking pictures of the sporting ace were covertly snapped by his bedside before the photographer tried to sell them to European media last month for nearly £1million.
The star’s furious wife Corinna demanded charges be pressed against the culprit, and prosecutors in Offenburg, Germany, were initially investigating as the pictures are said to violate the racing legend’s “personal range of life”.
But despite prosecutors describing the photographs as a “gross breach” of the family’s trust, the authorities have had to put their investigation on hold.
In a statement, the prosecutor’s office told RTL “an unknown person” had offered the “secret” images to publications for “high amounts of money”.
But the media house refused to name their sources during questioning to protect their sources.
The photo itself had not yet been made available to the media house, and even the prosecutor's office had not seen it.
Sabine Kehm, Schumacher's long-time manager, confirmed that his recovery would continue to be a private matter.
She said: "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."
Michael Schumacher injured in HORRIFIC skiing accident
The news comes as the family launched a new initiative called 'Keep Fighting' to inspire fans of the stricken F1 legend not to give up in times of trouble.
Ms Kehm added: "We are now celebrating the loyalty of the fans by a range of initiatives, including exhibitions, social media and now 'Keep Fighting'.
"Most of the fans have expressed their appreciation and have embraced these initiatives."
Schumacher was left in a coma after he sustained severe head injuries in a skiing accident in France on December 29, 2013.