Pilot breaks 12-year silence on Michael Schumacher rescue

Yannick Dainese, the helicopter pilot who airlifted Formula 1 icon Michael Schumacher following his severe skiing accident in December 2013, has spoken publicly for the first time in 12 years.

Dainese's team was immediately dispatched to Méribel Alpina ski resort to transport an injured individual to the hospital. It was on the ground that he learned the identity of his passenger. "One of the rescuers said: we're going to get Schumacher. At first, I thought he was joking," Dainese recounted to French sports publication L'Équipe.

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One of the rescuers said: we're going to get Schumacher. At first, I thought he was joking.

The reality quickly set in. Dainese recalled that the rescue team's commander instructed them to remove microphones and GoPro cameras, emphasizing the need to prevent journalists from following. "That's when I knew it was true," Dainese stated. He described the scene as intense, with Schumacher being transferred to the helicopter within minutes amid a heavy silence.

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That's when I knew it was true.

The quiet persisted during the approximately 25-minute flight. At the time, Dainese was unaware of the severity of Schumacher's injuries. He later returned to the hospital a few days later to transport another patient.

"I was stunned by what I saw. There were many buses and people everywhere. The area around the hospital had turned into an F1 track. It was unbelievable," Dainese said, referring to the overwhelming media presence. Schumacher sustained a serious brain injury in the accident and has not been seen publicly since.

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I was stunned by what I saw. There were many buses and people everywhere. The area around the hospital had turned into an F1 track. It was unbelievable.