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Teacher, 31, ‘took own life after using unlicensed hair loss drug’ – as girlfriend issues heartbreaking plea
A TEACHER took his own life after using an unlicensed hair loss drug he bought online, an inquest heard.
Sam Applegarth, 31, had no history of mental health problems before the tragedy.
The PE teacher had recently started a course of dutasteride, which is not licensed for hair loss in the UK.
An inquest was told there are no known “suicidal ideation” side effects for the drug as there has been a failure to report such feelings by men taking the drug.
Sam’s heartbroken girlfriend Anya Guy has now urged anybody having similar thoughts after taking dutasteride to inform medics.
She said: “People feeling by side effects with dutasteride should report them, especially if they are feeling suicidal.
“People need to be aware that they may be having suicidal ideation because of the drug.”
Wakefield Coroner’s Court heard Sam was concerned about losing his hair since 2015.
He had been visiting Dr Bessam Farjo at his clinic in Manchester but was never prescribed any drugs.
However, Sam did take minoxidil, which is easily available over the counter at Boots, and finasteride without any side effects.
In 2017, he had a successful hair transplant at the Farjo Hair Institute and underwent platelet-rich plasma treatment to rejuvenate his hair.
Sam also had his head tattooed to give the appearance of hair, which Dr Farjo said he seemed “happy” with.
Sam last saw Dr Farjo in July 2024 and confirmed he was still taking minoxidil and finasteride tablets.
The medic told the court he suggested Sam undergo cognitive therapy to ease his anxiety about going bald.
Dr Farjo added: “He was a young man with an exaggerated view about how big an issue his hair loss was,” said the doctor.
“I had no concerns he was having any side effects from the drugs.”
The court was told Sam moved to Dubai to teach in August, last year, with Anya planning to join him at a later date.
She said he had “struggled at times with his self esteem” due to his perceived hair loss but his condition was not a bad as he believed.
The inquest heard Sam had no history of mental illness or self harm he was a “bright and happy individual”.
Sam was discovered dead in his apartment by a work colleague on September 19 – just five weeks after arriving in Dubai.
He left no suicide note and a post-mortem found no alcohol or drugs in his system, the inquest heard.
Dr Farjo said that “suicidal ideation” is one recognised side effect of taking finasteride.
You're Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together,www.headstogether.org.uk
- HUMEN www.wearehumen.org
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans,www.samaritans.org, 116 123
He told the hearing he was unaware Sam had begun taking dutasteride, which he described as “more powerful” than finasteride.
The doctor said the known side effects of both drugs are the same, apart from finasteride has been reported by the BNF to cause suicidal ideation.
Dr Farjo acknowledged there may be an underreporting of suicidal ideation by patients following a course of dutasteride.
He added: “Dutasteride is not licensed for hair loss in this country and it is not commonly prescribed.
“The reason the BNF suicide ideation is not mentioned for dutasteride is because it has not been reported, whereas it has been reported for finasteride.”
Coroner Oliver Longstaff ruled a verdict of suicide.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
James Argent’s ex Nicoline Artursson slams his ‘controlling ex’ and says ‘there was one too many in relationship’
JAMES Argent’s ex-girlfriend Nicoline Artursson has hit out at his “controlling ex” for causing major issues with their ill-fated relationship.
In an 800-word statement, Nicoline finally spoke in depth about the domestic abuse she suffered at the hands of Argent last month.
The Swedish beauty queen was injured after being pushed down steps outside the home they shared in Spain.
He was arrested and spent several hours in police cells before admitting a charge of domestic violence in court.
Now, Nicoline has claimed former Towie star Lydia Bright was an unwelcome, interfering presence during their year together.
She said: “I felt there were too many people in our relationship: me, my boyfriend and his ex. ‘Three’s a crowd’, they say.
“I asked so many times if we could be just the two of us, but the answer was a strong NO.
“I experienced what I can only describe as targeted emotional distress which he allowed to continue.”
Nicoline continued: “After being together for one year my boyfriend finally promised me that he would have boundaries.
“He would put a stop to all that had been going on for months.
Have YOU got a story or an amazing picture or video? Email exclusive@the-sun.co.uk and you could even get PAID
“But he didn’t. Instead he broke the promise and her controlling behaviour continued. The rest is history.”
Argent and Lydia’s love story started off screen nearly two decades ago when they were teens and their drama-filled romance made legendary TV on the ITVBe show – gripping viewers with its constant twists and turns.
Domestic abuse - how to get help
DOMESTIC abuse can affect anyone - including men - and does not always involve physical violence.
Here are some signs that you could be in an abusive relationship:
- Emotional abuse – Including being belittled, blamed for the abuse – gaslighting – being isolated from family and friends, having no control over your finances, what you where and who you speak to
- Threats and intimidation – Some partners might threaten to kill or hurt you, destroy your belongings, stalk or harass you
- Physical abuse – This can range from slapping or hitting to being shoved over, choked or bitten.
- Sexual abuse – Being touched in a way you do not want to be touched, hurt during sex, pressured into sex or forced to have sex when you do not consent.
If any of the above apply to you or a friend, you can call these numbers:
- The Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge on 0808 2000 247 for free at any time, day or night
- Men who are being abused can call Respect Men’s Advice Line on 0808 8010 327 or ManKind on 0182 3334 244
- Those who identify as LGBT+ can ring Galop on 0800 999 5428
- If you are in immediate danger or fear for your life, always ring 999
Remember, you are not alone.
1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience domestic abuse over the course of their lifetime.
Every 30 seconds the police receive a call for help relating to domestic abuse.
They split in 2012, and Argent was accused of calling her a “sl*t” in text messages after learning she’d slept with someone else following their separation.
Despite this, they have maintained a close friendship and Lydia views Argent as an uncle to her daughter, Loretta, five.
She has stuck by her ex and close friend following his arrest and insists he’s not a violent man.
A friend who knows both Lydia and Arg very well tells The Sun: “When it comes to what happened with Arg and Nicoline, Lydia would never condone violence and has made that very clear to James, but she doesn’t think that he is a violent man and she knows he deeply regrets the events of that night.
“She has stuck by him, even though she doesn’t agree with his actions – just as his other mates like Mark Wright have.”
Lydia was also there for Argent when his weight ballooned to nearly 30 stone amid drug and food addiction.
Nicoline Artursson's statement in full
It’s now been a month. I still can’t believe it.
My fractures on my body have finally healed but I’m wounded inside. I’ve been quiet long enough. Silence protects no one – and it almost destroyed me.
What started as a love story sadly turned into something else. Behind the pictures, promises and the plans for a life together – the beautiful days – changed into something into sadness with emotional manipulation and eventually physical harm.
I loved deeply, believed in our future and stood by someone I thought would protect me and instead I was left alone and harmed in ways I never imagined.
I was not only failed by him but deeply affected by the presence of unresolved ties to his past.
Yes I posted an Instagram story with a simple yes or no question about if your ex should be a part of your present relationship. I felt there were too many people in our relationship: me, my boyfriend and his ex. ‘Three’s a crowd’, they say.
I asked so many times if we could be just the two of us, but the answer was a strong NO. I experienced what I can only describe as targeted emotional distress which he allowed to continue.
The ex and her family put us through so much misery and false accusations, I won’t go into details. They had no reason whatsoever to do what they did to us, but for some reason they wouldn’t let go and let us enjoy our love.
Everybody knows that real friends support you and want to see you happy.
So I posted a story on Instagram.
After being together for one year my boyfriend finally promised me that he would have boundaries.
He would put a stop to all that had been going on for months.
But he didn’t. Instead he broke the promise and her controlling behaviour continued. The rest is history.
I was brutally thrown out of our new home in the middle of the night wearing only my pyjamas. I opened the door to let him in and only minutes after I found myself laying down on the stairs outside our house.
My clothes and belongings were being thrown out from the balcony down on me. I was injured.
Thanks to incredible neighbours who heard and saw what happened and acted, I got help. They called police, brought me to safety and ensured the incident was taken seriously.
A gentleman does not abuse you and end up in jail and call you the love of his life. A gentleman does not blame you for his actions. A gentleman will confide in his partner, family and close circle of friends, keeping them close and safe. A gentleman chooses you always and leaves the past in the past – including exes.
Life is to be lived together and not to please people who want to take advantage of you. At the end of the day, fame can only do so much – it’s all about being strong and growing together.
Life is simply not a reality TV show, life is real.
I have tried to understand why. I have cried so many tears thinking about the way he chose to hurt me. He said he loved me and I believed him and here we are.
There is now a legal record of what happened. Violence has no excuse – no matter how much love preceded it.
To those who questioned me for staying as long as I did: I stayed because I believed in love. I believed he and we could grow, could heal, could choose peace. But love doesn’t survive in chaos. And it cannot survive where violence lives.
To every woman reading this: if you’ve ever questioned your worth, your safety or your sanity in a relationship – this is your sign. You deserved to be loved with care and integrity. And you are not alone.
To the men: real strength is protection. Real love is safe. Be the kind of man who lifts women up – not one who breaks them down, neither by violence or silence.
To the future: never say never. I will get the little family I’ve always dreamed of and have my dream wedding to symbolise and celebrate true love in front of my dear family and friends.
I’m healing now. Slowly, bravely and unapologetically. I will rise and I will use my voice – not for vengeance but for truth. For every woman who’s been silenced by someone who said ‘I love you’ and then proved otherwise.
This is not just my story. It’s a reminder: abuse – whether emotional, psychological or physical – has no place in love.
Meghan & Harry keep cashing in by piggybacking off the royal family – it’s disgusting, expert says
MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry keep raking in money by “piggybacking off” the royal family, slammed a royal expert.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down as senior working royals in 2020 and quit the UK.
The couple have since been embroiled in a bitter feud with the Firm.
Harry, alongside his wife, has continued to drag his family name through the mud, from their 2021 Orpah interview to his 2023 memoir Spare.
And, the latest blow to their fractured relationship came when the Duke of Sussex dropped some extraordinary bombshells in a BBC interview last month.
He filmed a rare sit-down chat after losing his appeal against the decision to remove his taxpayer-funded security.
But since turning their backs on the Royal Family, the Sussexes have also battled several stumbling blocks while trying to carve out their new identities.
Meghan, 43, has this year released her latest Netflix series With Love, Meghan, in which she hosted Hollywood pals.
Shortly after came the roll out of her brand As Ever, despite the company facing a series of setbacks.
The mum-of-two then dropped her second podcast, Confessions Of A Female Founder.
Harry meanwhile has been busy working on his Polo documentary on Netflix, and as ever his Invictus Games.
But despite trying to “reinvent themselves”, the pair are yet to settle on a particular niche, experts blasted previously.
Speaking on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive Show, esteemed former royal correspondent Charles Rae accused the Duchess of still using the Royal Family for profit.
“I’ve got no objections to Meghan and Harry making money,” he told esteemed royal correspondent Bronte Coy.
“None whatsoever. However they want to operate now is fine.
“It’s their royal connections that really irritate me. And they’re piggybacking off of that a great deal.
“But I think Meghan is the one who’s driving everything.
“And I think she will eventually come a cropper with all this.
“I mean, she says, ‘I don’t want to annoy the public’. Well, why not?
“She’s annoyed everybody else. You know, I mean, you know, she’s. she’s a very annoying person in my view.”
But fellow expert Sarah Hewson, added: “I think it is in everyone’s interest if she is able to make a success of this and make money off the back of this, because we know they’ve got a very expensive lifestyle, not least the security costs.
“And Prince Harry just having lost that court of appeal case, it is in everyone’s interest, the Royal Family included, if they are able to be self-sufficient, if they’re able to build a life, Prince Harry can do his philanthropy.
“Meghan can launch the business. I mean, I think that suits everybody.”
Royal experts previously slammed Meghan for using her royal title on a gift card, telling her “you can’t have it both ways”.
Meghan and Prince Harry agreed they wouldn’t use their HRH titles after they broke from the royal family – but the Duchess of Sussex seemingly still uses it with her friends.
But, in a recent podcast interview, a photo showed a gift basket of ice cream and strawberry sauce Meghan sent to Kern Lima a year ago.
With it came a note on monogrammed paper, signed: “With the compliments of HRH the Duchess of Sussex.”
Sources said that while Meghan and Harry do still have their titles, they agreed not to use them for “commercial purposes”.
The source said the note was a “personal gift” but the couple don’t publicly use HRH.
Meghan also awkwardly corrected her Hollywood pal Mindy Kaling on her cooking show.
A timeline of Prince Harry's family feud
The first hints of friction reportedly came after William was introduced to Meghan when she was staying at Kensington Palace.
Once she’d returned home to Canada, William and Harry sat down for a brother-to-brother chat.
He knew Harry was already head-over-heels for her but it has been claimed he advised him to take it slowly.
The younger prince reportedly didn’t take too kindly to the advice, with one royal source saying he “went mental”.
Then in June 2019 Harry and Meghan officially split off from the charity they shared with William and Kate.
The Royal Foundation will be divided between the Sussexes and Cambridges as the couples focus on their own separate charitable endeavours.
Prince William and Prince Harry first established the Royal Foundation in 2009 before Kate joined two years later shortly after their engagement was announced.
The trio would often appear together at events and the Foundation had huge successes with projects like the Invictus Games for injured veterans and the mental health Heads Together campaign.
The Royal Foundation said the decision was made following the conclusion of a review into its structure – but added both couples will continue to work together in the future.
Harry and Meg were living in close proximity to Kate and Wills within the Kensington Palace estate, but they switched to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor before baby Archie was born.
The move further increased rumours of a fallout.
Harry also hinted in his ITV documentary “Harry and Meghan, An African Journey” that he and his brother had grown apart.
In 2021, Harry and Meghan give their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey where Harry accused his dad of cutting him off financially.
Harry then jetted back to UK to join William in unveiling a statue to their mother Princess Diana in the grounds of Kensington Palace. But sources claimed William didn’t want to attend the memorial amid their ongoing rift.
In 2022, just before their grandmother the Queen died, sources claimed Kate acts as a “peacemaker” between the brothers.
Harry claimed his brother “knocked him to the floor” during an argument about Meghan, in his memoir.
In Spare, Harry said William branded Meghan “rude” and “difficult” during a row.
Harry alleged William “grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and … knocked me to the floor”.
He said he was left with a visible injury to his back following the argument in 2019 at Nottingham Cottage on the grounds of Kensington Palace, where he was living at the time.
In January 2024, Harry flew in to be with Charles after the monarch’s shock cancer diagnosis.
Harry flew back to the US the following day – without seeing Wills.
Mindy said: “People wouldn’t believe that Meghan Markle ate at Jack in the Box.”
Meghan fired back with: “It’s so funny, too, that you keep saying Meghan Markle. You know I’m Sussex now.”
The late Queen Elizabeth II honoured Harry and Meghan the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex for their 2018 wedding.
There have been calls for the couple to be stripped of the titles after blasting the royals on their Oprah Winfrey tell-all, six-part Netflix series Harry & Meghan and shock memoir Spare.
The California-based pair have also attracted criticism for only visiting Sussex once when they held several engagements seven years ago.
This comes after the Sussexes were last night blasted for invading their own privacy after releasing a video of them twerking to induce labour.
The mum-of-two posted a cringey hospital dance clip yesterday to celebrate daughter Lilibet’s fourth birthday.
It showed the former actress, heavily pregnant with their second child, making rowing movements and shimmying her shoulders beside a bed.
Prince Harry also shuffles across in a hoodie to the strains of then-viral pregnancy hit The Baby Momma Dance.
Meghan shared the 80-second video with her three million followers on Instagram after earlier posting photos of her daughter.
But royal expert Ingrid Seward last night said Meghan was a hypocrite as the couple regularly whine about a lack of privacy.
She told The Sun: “They can do what they like but why put it online?
“Does Meghan have no boundaries? I think it’s vulgar, unnecessary, attention-seeking.
“They make such a point about privacy and security and then they put stuff out there. Meghan can’t resist putting it out there.
“I think it’s completely hypocritical for everything she stands for. It’s very embarrassing.”
Meghan Markle & Prince Harry are in no man’s land – it’s a total crisis point for them, claims expert
MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry are “in no man’s land” as they navigate “crisis point”, claimed experts.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have both launched multiple business ventures since stepping down as senior working royals and quitting the UK in 2020.
Since turning their backs on the Royal Family, the couple have battled several stumbling blocks while trying to carve out their new identities.
Meghan, 43, has this year released her latest Netflix series With Love, Meghan, in which she hosted Hollywood pals.
Shortly after came the roll out of her brand As Ever, despite the company facing a series of setbacks.
The mum-of-two then dropped her second podcast, Confessions Of A Female Founder, which has already dropped off the Spotify Top 100 list.
The Duchess has also been promoting her ShopMy page, on which she advertised a controversial “ethical” handbag, where she shares links to her wardrobe and pockets a commission.
Harry meanwhile has been busy working on his Polo documentary on Netflix, and as ever his Invictus Games.
But despite trying to “reinvent themselves”, the pair are yet to settle on a particular niche, according to experts.
Ric Flair diagnosed with skin cancer as WWE legend, 76, reveals heartbreaking news
WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair revealed he has been diagnosed with skin cancer for the “second time in three years.”
Flair, 76, announced he will begin treatment next week.
THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..
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I spruced up my bland decking & gave it va-va-voom for summer with a HUGE Temu buy you can nab for just £8 down from £50
A YOUNG woman has shared how she gave her bland decking a mega makeover, without having to break the bank.
So if you want to spruce up your outside space but don’t have much cash to splash, then you’ve come to the right place.
Amy Betsie, a content creator from the UK, was able to transform her decking thanks to a bargain buy from Temu.
And while she paid £50 for the luxe product, it has now been reduced down to less than £9 – yes, you heard that correctly.
Posting on social media, Amy gave her followers a close-up look at her garden, before and after its makeover.
Not only did she hoover her decking to get rid of leaves in an instant, but she also added colour with a huge geometric rug.
She said: “So as per usual, I have to go in and tidy up the garden like I have to do weekly, because that tree is the bane of my life.
“I am so not ready for the bee loving people to come into my comments and tell me how much they love nature and bees.
“You might love nature, but I don’t love that tree – I love it to look at, I don’t love it to tidy up every single week.
“Honestly, it sheds all year round – summer, winter, spring and autumn. It is a joke.”
Amy then questioned: “Does anybody else hoover their garden by the way? I feel like if you’ve got decking, it’s a necessity to hoover your garden.”
Following this, the brunette held up her purse-friendly find as she beamed: “So this is the rug. I got it from Temu.
“It was between £50 and £60 which I think was a bargain because the size of it is absolutely huge.
“It takes up the majority of my garden and I just feel like with my garden, because it’s completely decked, it’s so bland.”
8 must-have plants to brighten up your garden
Nick Hamilton owner of Barnsdale Gardens has shared his favourite plants and flowers you should consider adding to your garden, borders and pots.
Tricyrtis
A spectacular plant that gives a real exotic feel to any garden with its orchid-like, spotted flowers giving the impression that this plant should be tender but it is “as tough as old boots!”.
Penstemon
I love this plants genus of because most will flower all summer and autumn. They’ll grow in sun or semi-shade in a well drained soil and produce a non-stop display of tubular flowers in an array of colours and colour combination to suit all tastes.
Luzula sylvatica ‘Marginata’
With the evergreen leaves edged with yellow it’s great asset is that it
will grow in sun or shade in any type of soil and is great as groundcover in the hardest spot to fill – dry shade.
Eryngium x zabelii ‘Big Blue’
A stunning, nectar-rich plant that will feed the beneficial insects in your
garden. Leave the flowerheads once they have turned brown because they look stunning with winter frost and snow, extending the plant’s interest period.
Sarcococca hookeriana ‘Winter Gem’
If you need winter scent then look no further than this compact, evergreen shrub. The scent is stunning and the evergreen leaves create an excellent backdrop for the summer flowers.
Cornus sanguinea ‘Anny’s Winter Orange’
A dwarf version of ‘Midwinter Fire’ the very colourful stems create a stunning winter display, particularly on sunny days.
Rosa ‘Noisette Carnee’
A very well-behaved climbing rose that is perfect for training over an arch, pergola or gazebo. The small, “noisette” flowers are blush-pink and produce the most amazing clove scent constantly from June to November.
Sanguisorba hakusanensis ‘Lilac Squirrel’
I’ve never seen a squirrel with a drooping, shaggy lilac tail, but this variety will give your garden an unusual and different look throughout summer. It does need a moisture retentive soil but will grow in sun or semi-shade.
As she showed off her garden, which she completed with some rattan furniture, she continued: “So I decided to get this just to spruce it up and give it that little bit of a va-va-voom, which I think it absolutely did.”
Thrilled with her rug, the gardening enthusiast shared: “It is stunning.”
Whilst the exact rug Amy bought has now been discontinued, there are a number of strikingly similar geometric rugs that have been reduced on the Temu website.
That rug is gorgeous
TikTok user
While some of the reversible outdoor rugs were once priced at £151, £50, £44 and £21, the cheapest option is now just £8.91, which we think is a real bargain.
Such rugs are great for adding style to a decking or patio, without breaking the bank.
The outdoor rugs are said to be “lightweight and portable”, “easy to clean” and are even suitable for picnics in the park too.
Not only does Amy’s decking now look fabulous, but it’s perfect for hosting events with friends and family – and we’re sure any eagle-eyed neighbours will love it too.
Social media users react
The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @amy_betsie, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly amassed 40,900 views, 356 likes and 24 comments.
Social media users were impressed with Amy’s bargain buy and many eagerly raced to the comments to express this.
Garden features that add the most value to a house
A well-kept garden can add anywhere between 5-20% to the value of a property.
Sellhousefast.uk carried out a study and consulted 36 estate agents, garden designers and property professionals from across the UK.
And the experts revealed the garden feature which adds the most value to a property is a shed.
- Shed – 82%
- Patio or paving – 76%
- Secure fencing, walls or gates – 72%
- Outdoor lighting – 66%
- Sturdy decking – 62%
- Water features eg. fountain or pond – 58%
- Modern garden furniture – 54%
- Artificial lawn/grass – 40%
One person said: “Love it.”
Another added: “That rug is gorgeous.”
Whilst a third commented: “Always hoovering my deck and outdoor rugs!”
Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club
Inside Schumacher’s inner circle as F1 boss reveals who ‘regularly’ sees tragic star… & his shock at pal who WON’T visit
AN F1 boss has revealed insider information on Michael Schumacher’s inner circle – like who “regularly” visits him and his shock at one pal who won’t.
Schumacher hasn’t been in the public eye since a devastating skiing accident 12 years ago and is cared for by medical staff and his wife Corinna at their home in Lake Geneva.
The F1 legend’s family have remained very protective of his privacy, with little known about his condition since the 2013 accident.
Now ex-Red Bull chief Richard Hopkins has spoken out about the star – and revealed who regularly him.
He told Wette.de: “Jean Todt, that’s well known. Jean and Michael had an extraordinarily close relationship.
“I believe Luca Badoer, who is a close family friend, visits him.
“If there is a third, I don’t know who that would be.”
But Hopkins also spoke of a pal who won’t visit Schumacher – Flavio Briatore.
He added: “Flavio is, as we know, a flamboyant character. I would have thought he would have probably been the first person who would have wanted to see Michael in whatever way that was. But you have to respect that decision.
“That’s down to the individual. Not necessarily shared by all. I know there are close friends that go and see Schumacher and that’s their own choice and for their own reasons.
“But Flavio has obviously got his and it’s very deep and personal how we remember people, and how we want to remember people.
“I think we all have to respect that one.”
In 2020 Briatore’s former wife Elisabetta Gregoraci claimed that: “Michael doesn’t speak, he communicates with his eyes.”
Addressing this rumour, Hopkins said: “I’m not in that circle to know the absolute facts about Schumacher. Not many people are. Does he communicate through his eyes? Quite possibly.
“There is rumour he does watch Grand Prixs. But this is just speculation and perhaps unfair for anyone to make assumptions and guesses.
“Any remark I make will be unqualified as well in that sense, so it’s difficult to be drawn on it.”
In April, Schumacher signed a charity helmet belonging to fellow F1 icon Sir Jackie Stewart with help from Corinna.
The helmet will be auctioned to raise money for Stewart’s charity Race Against Dementia.
But Hopkins has described the signing as potentially being a “one-off”.
He said: “I suspect that [Jackie Stewart helmet signature] gesture was a one-off. There was a lot of media around that and maybe for the family too much media.
“They try to keep everything quiet and private, so I’d hazard a guess that it was a one-off.
“It was a great gesture from the family to organise that.”
Yilmaz Tozturkan, 53, and his son Daniel Lins, 30, had threatened to publish videos and pictures of Schumacher unless they were given £12million.
Security guard Markus Fritsche had copied the private material while working for the Schumachers and sold it to the two men.
In February the trio were found guilty of their part in the blackmail plot.
Fritsche was given a two-year suspended sentence, while Tozturkan was jailed for three years and Lins was given a six-month suspended prison sentence by a German court.
Schumacher’s wife Corinna wanted a harsher sentence for Fritsche.
She said: “What still shocks me most is the massive breach of trust.
“He should receive a punishment for this that deters others from potentially doing the same.”
When Schumacher’s head hit a boulder in the skiing accident 12 years ago, it split his helmet in two.
The brain injury was so serious that he spent 250 days in a coma.
The best medical treatment that money could buy brought the sporting great, who is worth £468million, back to consciousness.
There had been rumours that further treatment in Paris had allowed Schumacher to take some small steps, but that was later dismissed.
What do we know about Schumacher since his accident?
MICHAEL Schumacher’s life changed forever on December 29, 2013, when a skiing accident left the seven-time F1 champion with a severe brain injury.
Since then, his family has protected his privacy, with only a select few remaining in contact with the racing legend.
December 29, 2013 – The skiing accident: Schumacher suffers a life-threatening head injury while skiing off-piste in Méribel, France. He falls and hits his head on a rock, causing severe brain trauma despite wearing a helmet. He is airlifted to a hospital in Grenoble, where he undergoes two emergency surgeries. Doctors place him in a medically induced coma to reduce swelling in his brain.
January 2014 – Schumacher fights for his life: Schumacher remains in a coma. Doctors describe his condition as “critical but stable”. His family, led by wife Corinna, remains at his bedside. The world’s F1 community rallies behind him, with fans holding vigils outside the hospital.
June 2014 – Schumacher brought out of his coma: After nearly six months, Schumacher is brought out of his coma. His family confirms he is no longer in a coma but gives no further health details. He is transferred from Grenoble to a rehabilitation facility in Lausanne, Switzerland.
September 2014 – Back home: Schumacher is moved to his family home near Lake Geneva. Corinna announces he will continue his recovery at home, with a dedicated medical team.
2015–2018 – Mystery surrounding his health: Reports suggest Schumacher is receiving round-the-clock medical care at home, costing £50,000 per week. Jean Todt reveals he still visits Schumacher and that they watch F1 races together.
May 2017 – German magazine sued by Schumacher’s family: The magazine Bunte has to pay Michael Schumacher €50,000 (£42,000) in damages after claiming in 2015 that Schumacher would walk again. The Hamburg regional court determined that the statement was false and infringed upon Schumacher’s right to privacy.
September 2019 – Schumacher secretly transferred to Paris: French media reports that Schumacher is taken to Paris for stem cell therapy at the Georges-Pompidou Hospital. The procedure is led by renowned surgeon Dr. Philippe Menasché. Details of the treatment remain undisclosed.
December 2019 – Manager issues rare statement: Schumacher’s longtime manager Sabine Kehm says his condition will remain private. She dismisses speculation and false reports about his health.
September 2021 – Netflix documentary “Schumacher” released: A new Netflix documentary, Schumacher, provides rare insights into his life. Corinna speaks publicly about his condition for the first time, saying: “Michael is here. Different, but he’s here, and that gives us strength.”
December 2023 – 10 years since the accident: Schumacher turns 55. The anniversary of his accident is marked by tributes from the F1 world. Jean Todt confirms he still sees Schumacher regularly and describes his visits as “full of affection”.
September 2024 – Daughter Gina’s wedding: Gina Schumacher, 27, marries longtime boyfriend Iain Bethke at the family’s £27million Majorca villa. Reports claim Schumacher attends the wedding, but close friend Johnny Herbert later calls it “A1 fake news”. Guests are reportedly required to hand over their phones to prevent leaks.
December 2024 – Schumacher to become a grandfather: Gina announces she is pregnant, three months after her wedding. She shares the news on Instagram, writing: “Impatiently awaiting the arrival of our little girl.”
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