The helicopter pilot who assisted Michael Schumacher after his skiing accident has spoken out for the first time after 12 years. Yannick Dainese transported Schumacher from the French Alps to a medical facility after he sustained a traumatic head injury during the incident.
Dainese was on duty as a pilot for SAF Helicopteres when his unit received an emergency call from Meribel Alpina. He was unaware of the injured person’s identity at the time. He was informed once they landed on the snow.
Speaking to L’Equipe, Dainese said, “A rescuer jumped out of the helicopter with the doctor and said to me ‘we’re going to Schumacher!'”
He added, “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.”
Pilot Describes the Scene
Dainese said he is not an F1 fan, but knew of Schumacher’s fame. “Subconsciously, the pressure was there because I knew he was worshipped like a god,” he admitted.
“But for me, he was just another seriously injured person.”
The piste was promptly sealed off, leaving only Schumacher and the paramedics on site. Yannick and his crew secured Schumacher onto a vacuum mattress before transferring him onto the helicopter.
He also recounted the 25-minute flight to a Grenoble hospital took place in complete silence. He had no idea of the extent of the injuries at the time of their arrival at the hospital. It was only upon returning a few days later, while transporting another patient, that he uncovered the full picture.
“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,” he added. “It was unbelievable.”
Schumacher’s Condition and Privacy
Schumacher’s condition has been kept under close wraps. His family has maintained a tight-knit inner circle around the former F1 World Champion.
He remained in a coma for up to 250 days following the accident. Schumacher now lives at his family’s private residences in Switzerland and Mallorca.
Dainese’s account of that day is set to feature in a report involving dozens of medical professionals and others with knowledge of the skiing accident. Michael Schumacher’s accident completely altered his life.