Michael Schumacher 'is not walking'

Michael Schumacher with his wife Corinna on the slopes in northern Italy. Photo / Getty

Michael Schumacher's manager has denied a magazine report which claimed the severely injured Formula 1 star is walking again.

Sabine Kehm accused Bunte magazine of raising "false hopes" with its report of Schumacher's recovery.

Almost two years after the skiing accident that nearly killed him and left him with a serious brain injury, the German lifestyle magazine claimed Schumacher had made a dramatic recovery.

"Michael is very thin. But he can walk again with a little help from his therapist," the magazine quoted an unnamed "confidant" of the racing driver as saying.

"He manages to walk a few steps. He can even raise his arm."

The magazine described the improvement in Schumacher's condition as a "Christmas miracle".

But Ms Kehm, the driver's manager who has acted as a spokesman for the family since his accident, quickly denied the report.

"Unfortunately, we are forced by a recent press report to clarify that the assertion that Michael could move again is not true," Ms Kehm said.

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

Bunte magazine said it was standing by the accuracy of its report.

Schumacher, a seven-time Formula 1 world champion who is widely regarded as one of the greatest racing drivers of all time, was injured while skiing off-piste with his 14-year-old son in December 2013.

The magazine described the improvement in Schumacher's condition as a "Christmas miracle".

The German suffered a traumatic brain injury after he fell and hit his head on a rock, despite wearing a ski helmet which probably saved his life.

He was rushed to hospital and put into a medically induced coma for four months.

Schumacher's injury attracted an extraordinary level of media interest, and his family had great difficulty protecting his privacy.

A journalist tried to gain access to his bedside disguised as a priest. His medical records were stolen and offered for sale, and the main suspect in the theft was later found hanged in his cell.

The driver emerged from his coma in April 2014, and returned to continue his recovery at his home in Switzerland that September.

According to earlier reports he is paralysed and confined to a wheelchair, has memory problems and cannot speak.

In May, Ms Kehm said his condition was slowly improving "considering the severity of his injury".