Michael Schumacher’s management criticises report he can walk again for giving false hope to fans

German weekly stands by front page report claiming F1 ace had taken first steps

Michael Schumacher before his retirement from Formula One (GETTY IMAGES)

Michael Schumacher’s management has criticised a magazine for giving readers false hope over a report claiming the Formula One driver had taken his first steps since his devastating skiing accident.

Bunte, a German weekly glossy, published a report quoting a source as claiming Schumacher had taken a few tentative steps almost two years after he hit his head on a rock while skiing in 2013.

The 46-year-old was in a coma for 159 days before being moved to a rehabilitation clinic close to his home near Lake Geneva.

The report is headlined: “He can walk again!”

According to a translation obtained by The Independent, the source said: “Michael is very weak. But he can already walk a little with the help of his therapist, he manages to walk a few steps. He can also lift his arm up.”

Bunte has said it stands by the report even after a denial from Schumacher’s management, according to The Express.

His manager Sabine Kehm said in a statement: ”Unfortunately we are forced by a recent press report to clarify that the assertion that Michael could move again is not true.

“Such speculation is irresponsible, because given the seriousness of his injuries, his privacy is very important for Michael. Unfortunately they also give false hopes to many involved people.”

Schumacher’s manager did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent.

There have been no official updates on his recovery since it was announced that he had woken from his coma over a year ago.

His friend Ross Brawn, a former motorsport engineer and Formula One team principal, expressed hope that Schumacher could still recover. “We just keep praying every day that he’ll recover to a stage where… it’s slow, but there’s always hope,” he told The Mirror in October.

The Independent has contacted Bunte for comment.