2 weeks agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Transfer news LIVE: Chelsea ANNOUNCE Liam Delap, Liverpool in Kerkez talks, Man City ‘closing in on Ait-Nouri deal’
THE thrills and spills of the summer transfer window are finally here – with some huge deals already in the pipeline.
2 weeks agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Inside Kia’s refreshed Sportage including comfy cabin, punchy new looks and driving mode young families will love
PEOPLE say never work with children or animals.
Because they’re totally unpredictable. Treats will only get you so far.
Maisie and cockapoo pal Bijoux help put the Kia Sportage, Britain’s favourite family SUV, to the ultimate family testSuppliedThe Kia comes with three engine choices — 1.6-litre petrol mild hybrid, full hybrid or plug-in hybrid[/caption]
SuppliedTwo little fluff balls, perfect for having a proper rummage around the refreshed Sportage[/caption]
But I’m not one to listen.
So when Kia said Britain’s favourite SUV is better for the family than ever before, I had to put it to the test.
Meet Maisie and her new bestie, Bijoux the cockapoo.
Two little fluff balls, perfect for having a proper rummage around the refreshed Sportage.
Here are five things you need to know.
1. It’s got a “baby and toddler mode” which smooths out acceleration and driver inputs.
Makes everything less jolty. So little toddlers like Maisie stay sound asleep. Happy babies = happy parents. You know that.
2. The boot. Comfortably beats a NissanQashqai at 587 litres v 504.
Swallows pushchairs, luggage and all the usual family debris — even a dog crate to keep Bijoux safe.
Which also means no muddy paws on the seats. Bonus. Some dogs will appreciate the baby mode, too.
3. New front end. OUT go the “boomerang” lights from today’s Sportage. IN comes the “star map” LEDs inspired by Kia’s growing EV line-up. Looks punchy.
More aggressive. Will help Sportage stand out from the crowd. The rear lights have also been updated, as well as some other little details to keep things fresh.
4. Cabin. Absolutely nailed it. Lots of big-car tech in here but still knobs and buttons for the things that need knobs and buttons. Comfy.
Roomy. Lots of handy storage, big cup holders, even USB-C charging ports in the side of the front seats for people sat in the back.
Three well-equipped trim levels, not four as before. Posher versions get Apple CarPlay satnav arrows integrated into the Head-up Display.
5. Engines. Three choices — 1.6-litre petrol mild hybrid, full hybrid or plug-in hybrid.
The last two have a bit more oomph than before and the option of four-wheel drive.
It’s got a ‘baby and toddler mode’ which smooths out acceleration and driver inputs
Here’s some good news for caravanners and people with weekend toys. Maximum towing capacity has increased to 1,510kg.
No diesel. No pure electric. If you want to go electric next, there’s a Sportage-sized EV5 coming soon.
6. Sorry, I can’t count. Price. No official numbers from Kia yet but I’m guessing £31k for the petrol manual when it hits showrooms in September?
That would be a lot of car at a sensible price.
Maisie’s parents own a Kia Niro by the way. You can guess what car they want next.
SuppliedThe refreshed Sportage’s cabin is spot on – packed with big-car tech but still has proper knobs and buttons where it counts[/caption]
SuppliedIt’s even got a ‘baby and toddler mode’ which smooths out acceleration and driver inputs[/caption]
2 weeks agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Dear Jessie J, don’t fear the cancer rage it’s only natural after shock diagnosis – I know because it floored me too
SUN Agony Aunt Sally Land, who also had breast cancer, writes an open letter to Jessie J after the pop star’s shock diagnosis.
DEAR JESSIE: MY heart went out to you as I read about your breast cancer diagnosis and plea for a hug.
GettyJessie J has revealed she’s been diagnosed with cancer[/caption]
SuppliedJessie J’s frank admission about her diagnosis threw The Sun’s Agony Aunt Sally Land back to this time last year when she was waiting for her own major breast cancer surgery[/caption]
You shared that you will undergo surgery within days, and while this is the rawest of times — a “rage stage”, even — as a fellow member of the club none of us wanted to join, I can reassure you that this time of huge uncertainties will pass.
You will be feeling all the possible emotions stacked one upon the other: Relief, hope, guilt, agonising fear and a fury like no other you have ever experienced.
The relief comes from being thankful the cancer has been detected. The hope — that the surgery will remove all cancerous cells.
The guilt isn’t logical, but ever- present nonetheless, that you somehow didn’t know before there was something wrong.
The agonising fear stalks you, occupying your mind with what might happen to your children if the worse case scenario becomes reality.
And then there is the rage.
It’s a visceral anger that this is happening to you.
And there is no reasoning with this rage, because of course why not you, me, or any of the other 56,820 women who are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK every year?
This anger is about having to go under the knife, fear of surgery, resentment that your breasts, a part of your body so synonymous with being a woman, are about to be cut and changed for ever.
Sociable and friendly by nature, I spent the weeks before my surgery pacing angrily alone.
Friends, family and colleagues were amazing, but I couldn’t break out of my simmering fury.
A long weekend at the coast passed in a surreal blur, and while my family played cricket on the beach, I’d take myself and my black mood off for long walks.
Often the only companion I could cope with was Coco, my scruffy labradoodle.
It’s a weird feeling carrying something around within you that you know is potentially lethal, and your conscious thoughts are so often all consumed on that small pin point.
You desperately want it out and yet dread the surgery.
Shopping for post-surgery bras was a real low point.
Normally drawn to bright and bold matching sets, I stared miserably at the monotone post-surgery bras, tears running down my cheeks in the middle of M&S.
InstagramJessie told fans she was hesitant about going public[/caption]
This was not a section of the women’s lingerie I had ever wanted to visit.
The only offerings were unapologetically ugly “bolder holders”, but over the next few months I came to appreciate their soft texture and velcro fastenings.
I applaud your honesty at this early stage of diagnosis. It took me months to open up about the experience and I’m so glad I did.
So many women and men have contacted me privately to share their own experiences of cancer.
And some followed up symptoms that they admitted they would otherwise have ignored.
Your willingness to be open will help so many and keep life-saving cancer awareness high.
Disconcertingly, one in five patients wait longer than three months before sharing their symptoms with their GP.
So just think how much better survival rates would be if people sought help earlier.
My surgeon advised me to tell my children about my diagnosis because, as he said, “Children hear more than you think and know when you are keeping secrets from them.”
He told me that I had a long path ahead and if my children didn’t feel they could trust what I was telling them, it would make the whole process a lot harder.
His words echoed in my head when a couple of hours later I put my youngest to bed.
As I tucked him in, he looked straight in my eyes and said, “Mummy, are you OK? I feel like you’re hiding something.”
I knew then, we’d tell them the next day.
The memory of seeing their faces crumple still floors me. My surgeon was right — while there were plenty of nerve-wracking hurdles from that point on, and I know they were scared, at least they knew they could trust us.
Your son is still very young, so will have limited understanding of your diagnosis.
But you will find an age-appropriate way to communicate that “Mummy is poorly and the doctors are helping her get better”.
Especially post-surgery, the sight of tubes, dressings, drains and tentative cuddles take some explaining.
Macmillan (macmillan.org.uk) has a brilliant section on how to talk to children and teens about cancer.
While my rage and fear consumed me right up until the point when I went under general anaesthetic, the moment I came round from surgery and immediately inspected myself, a huge wave of relief swept over me.
My surgeon, Mr Richard Sutton, the Clinical Director for the Breast Unit at the RUH in Bath, did an absolutely brilliant job.
Like many breast cancer surgeons he is trained both in tumour removal, reconstructive surgery and oncoplastic surgery, which improves cosmetic outcomes.
That means while the surgery is fully focused on giving you the best outcome healthwise, your surgical team does everything they can to give you the best aesthetic results.
I’m sure you will be in very good hands and I’m wishing you the hugest wave of relief.
So deep breaths, Jessie. You’re going through the mill, but the love of all who surround you will carry you through.
And I’m sending you the hugest hug.
With love, Sally
If anything is playing on your mind and you want advice, you can write to me and my team of trained counsellors for a personal response at deardeidre@the-sun.co.uk
instagramJessie with partner Chanan and their son Sky[/caption]
SuppliedSally was urged by her surgeon to tell her children about the diagnosis[/caption]
BackGridJessie J has previously opened up about her health struggles[/caption]
JESSIE'S HEALTH BATTLES
THIS isn’t the first time Jessie J has faced a major health scare.
From a heart condition, to a minor stroke and now breast cancer, here are some of the conditions she has faced. . .
Jessie was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome aged eight.
The heart condition causes an irregular heartbeat and can leave a patient feeling dizzy and short of breath.
Her dad also suffers from it.
At 18, she suffered a minor stroke, said to be caused by the syndrome.
At a cancer gala in 2020, she told the audience: “I thought that I was never going to get better. I feel so lucky that I was given a second chance at life.”
In 2020, the singer temporarily experienced deafness due to Meniere’s disease, a rare inner-ear disorder.
She described it as though “someone crawled” into her ear and “turned on a hairdryer”.
After Jessie suffered a miscarriage in 2021, she said: “I have never experienced physical pain and trauma or felt loneliness like it.”
In 2024, the star revealed she had been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
2 weeks agoUSA UpdateComments Off on White Brits will become a MINORITY in the UK in less than 40 years, shock study warns
Alamy
WHITE British people will become a minority in the UK in less than 40 years, a population study warns.
The current proportion of around 73 per cent will fall to 57 per cent by 2050, a migration report predicts, slipping below half by 2063.
Right-wing commentator Professor Matt Goodwin’s research is based on official current population dataPA
By the end of the century, just 33.7 per cent of the UK population will have no immigrant parents, falling to 28 per cent for under-40s, according to Professor Matt Goodwin.
His research, based on official current population data, also forecasts a sharp rise in people with immigrant backgrounds — from below 20 per cent today to 60.6 per cent by 2100.
Prof Goodwin, a right-wing commentator, said: “By the end of the century, most of the people on these islands will not be able to trace their roots in this country back more than one or two generations.”
The share of UK-born people is also projected to collapse from 81 per cent today to 39 per cent.
The Muslim population could rise from seven per cent to 19.2 per cent.
Prof Goodwin said: “This raises enormous questions about the capacity of our country and leaders to unify people around a shared sense of identity, values, ways of life, and culture, and avoid the very real risk of us becoming what Sir Keir Starmer referred to in May as ‘an island of strangers’.”
He argued these changes were likely to spark “anxiety, concern and political opposition” among those who want to preserve the UK’s “symbols, traditions, culture and ways of life”.
It comes amid pressure to reduce record levels of legal and illegal migration.
GettyLiam Delap has joined Chelsea from Ipswich in a £30million deal[/caption]
The striker emerged as Enzo Maresca’s preferred attacking target after netting 12 Premier League goals for the Tractor Boys.
And their time together at Manchester City also played a pivotal role in Delap’s decision to snub fellow suitors United.
The forward is now set to make an immediate debut for his new side at the Club World Cup.
In a statement on the club’s website, he said: “I understand the stature of this club and can see the trajectory it is on with these players and the head coach.
“It’s going to be an incredible place for me to develop, and I hope to achieve amazing things here and help the club win more trophies.”
Delap will battle Nicolas Jackson for a spot up front, with the England U21s star hoping to become Chelsea’s starting hitman for the new Premier League season.
The former Stoke, Preston and Hull loanee has also been reunited with several of his City youth team-mates in Cole Palmer and Romeo Lavia.
Their relationship through the centre of the park could play a pivotal role in any future Chelsea success.
Darren FletcherCelebrity chef Aldo Zilli rates a selection of battered cods[/caption]
Luckily, there are plenty of similar fish fillets available in the supermarkets to give you all the taste without the higher cost.
Celebrity chef Aldo Zilli, who is a Scottish Fish and Chip Awards judge and head chef at Elaine’s Restaurant in London, tucks into a selection of battered portions.
Tesco Battered Cod Fillet Portions
4 pieces, 500g, £3.39, 52% fish
Darren FletcherI don’t know how they make this cod so cheap[/caption]
THESE frozen portions are Atlantic cod, which is sustainable and a good source, so I don’t know how they make it so cheap.
It’s an excellent price for four pieces.
For those nights when you want a chippy tea, you could absolutely cook an alternative with this box on standby in the freezer.
With some chunky homemade or oven chips, it’s perfect for a takeaway taste.
It is not quite authentic in flavour as the batter is a bit soft.
But the fish tastes fresh, with a good, firm texture and it’s flaking and moist.
The size of each piece is generous, too.
RATING: 4/5
Sainsbury’s Battered Cod Fillets
4 pieces, 500g, £3.39, 58% fish
Darren FletcherWhen picking up this Sainsbury’s fish, be prepared for something more like a canape[/caption]
ONE of the higher ratios of fish but they do not seem plentiful.
The pieces of cod have been cut in a meagre way and look like offcuts. I suppose that’s how you keep the price down, and it doesn’t affect the taste.
The batter is a bit uneven and thicker around the edges.
It looks like it has a batter crust, which is quite strange.
But the fish tastes decent, is flaking and plump and appears and smells very fresh for a frozen piece of cod.
Not oily at all.
It’s less than a pound for a portion but size-wise, be prepared for something more like a canape.
Good for small appetites.
RATING: 3/5
Asda Battered Cod Fillets
4 pieces, 440g, £3.75, 55% fish
Darren FletcherAsda battered cod looks more like a biscuit[/caption]
AFTER cooking, I already don’t much like the look of it and I’m not excited to tuck in.
The batter is an odd, nutty brown colour.
It should be a rich golden amber.
It looks more like a biscuit than a piece of fish and the coating is so crunchy you could crack your teeth.
There’s a huge amount of batter that is so solid it’s breaking away in shards, plus the cod is chewy and tasteless.
This resembles something that has been sitting under a canteen hotplate for hours drying out.
Not exactly a treat to replace a takeaway.
RATING: 2/5
M&S Battered Cod Fillets
2 pieces, 300g, £4.50, 58% fish
Darren FletcherM&S cod fillets are a bit more expensive[/caption]
THE fish inside are fresh, not pre-cooked, which means the luxury level has been upped here – along with the price tag.
It is very good quality.
You get good chunky pieces of cod and can tell from the shape it is a proper, bouncy, fish fillet inside.
On the downside, there are only two pieces for the higher price, so great for couples but not for families.
And it took longer to cook than the packet said.
They taste very nice but the batter- to-fish ratio is off and the coating is too thick.
But it does taste like chip shop batter and the cod is moist.
RATING: 3/5
Aldi Battered Cod
4 pieces, 500g, £3.39, 52% fish
Darren FletcherThis Aldi cod is my winner![/caption]
THE ingredients are pretty minimal, which is good, and as a freezer-friendly batter goes, it’s a fairly authentic recipe.
I really liked the look of these.
Four chunky pieces of cod that will fill you up.
The fish in the batter is the right proportion to allow you to enjoy both flavours without either overwhelming the other.
And they both taste delicious.
Excellent flaking fish and the golden coating is crispy, tasty and exactly the right texture.
Frozen batter is hard to get right because it often goes soggy when you warm it back up.
RATING: 5/5
Lidl Battered White Fish Fillets
4 pieces, 500g, £2.50, 53% fish
Darren FletcherLidl offer cheaper pollock instead[/caption]
LABELLED as “battered white fish”, inside the batter you get pollock.
Not one you’ll see on the board at your local chippy but it’s not a bad alternative.
The firm texture is similar to a piece of cod, so it works well even if it’s not as flavoursome and moist.
The main difference is price.
Pollock is much cheaper, which is why these portions are more budget friendly.
But if you are going to add ketchup, mushy peas and all the other trimmings, you probably won’t notice it’s not cod.
Great as a kids’ meal option to save you money.
The batter had a strange texture though.
RATING: 3/5
Iceland Battered Skinless Cod
4 pieces, 440g, £3.50, 52% fish
Darren FletcherIceland’s option has a dense coating[/caption]
SADLY, these were not good at all. They were a decent size and the batter looked thick.
But after I heated it up I realised just how dense the coating was.
In fact, there was hardly any fish inside at all.
When I pulled off all the outer layer, I was left with a teeny tiny amount of white fish.
That wouldn’t be so bad if the golden casing was incredible, but it was not great.
It’s not crispy and it dried out when cooking, so it sticks in your mouth.
Altogether, tasteless, watery and lacks flavour.
Not like battered fish at all.
RATING: 2/5
Young’s Chip Shop
2 pieces, 300g, £4.50 (was £5.75) Ocado.com, 54% fish
Darren FletcherYoung’s Chip Shop fillets are in an exceptionally crumbly, yet still light, crispy batter[/caption]
PROMISES to have bubbly batter just like you’d get fresh from the fryer.
In fairness, even when still frozen, this looks like a genuine chippy piece.
You get two really big pieces of cod and they’ve used the tail cut of fish like the longer, thinner pieces you are served in takeaways.
They are in an exceptionally crumbly, yet still light, crispy batter made with sodium bicarbonate for a golden chip shop texture and flavour.
Moist and tasty and there’s more fish and less batter, which works well.
It looks, smells and tastes incredibly like a chippy offering.
2 weeks agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Fury as unions could STOP plans to force French cops to intercept UK-bound migrants as it’s ‘too dangerous’
PLANS to force police in France to intercept migrants on the beaches before they board boats for Britain have been rejected by powerful unions across the Channel.
They claim it would be too dangerous to try to tackle overcrowded dinghies at sea.
PALast Saturday, 1,195 migrants arrived on 19 small boats — the highest number for a single day this year.[/caption]
And their opposition is threatening to scupper efforts to close a loophole that means officers in France cannot stop boats once they are already in the water.
As a result, smugglers launch dinghies from inland canals and act as taxis to pick up migrants who wade into the sea, while law enforcement officials watch on from the shore.
France Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau wants to change the law so officers can intervene up to 300m from the coastline but progress has been slow.
A new strategy is being drawn up to coincide with President Emmanuel Macron’s State visit to Britain in July. But unions in France are opposed to the plan.
A senior source at Alliance — the largest police union in the country — said: “People don’t seem to realise how dangerous it is to try to carry out arrests at sea, while trying to force a boat to change course.
“If there are 80 people on an overcrowded boat, including women and children, then it is extremely dangerous to try to stop them.
“The potential for disaster, including further deaths, is immense. Turning us into sea police is not the way forward.”
A source at the maritime branch of the General Confederation of Labour, which represents seamen across France, told The Sun: “If a potentially vulnerable boat is stable then it should not be interfered with until it reaches a safe place on the shore.
“Such boats should only be interfered with at sea if they are in serious trouble.”
Frédéric Okonek, coastal delegate for the Un1té union, said previously: “If the police intervene in the water, the boat sinks with a hundred people on board. It’s too dangerous.
“We also have orders: When the boat is in the water, we no longer have the right to intervene. It’s to prevent tragedies.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has told Mr Retailleau she wants the law changed as swiftly as possible.
Last Saturday, 1,195 migrants arrived on 19 small boats — the highest number for a single day this year.
Fewer than 40 per cent of boats have been turned back despite a £480million deal with France to combat crossings.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “Belgium has been very successfully intercepting returning boats at sea and has almost entirely stopped embarkations.
PAPlans to force police in France to intercept migrants on the beaches before they board boats for Britain have been rejected by powerful unions[/caption]
2 weeks agoUSA UpdateComments Off on PC sacked for arresting teen scrote with knife is everything that’s wrong with this country – criminals have more rights
IF you want a very quick insight into what is wrong with this country, just take a look at the case of Police Constable Lorne Castle.
Lorne, 46, worked for the plod in Bournemouth. Twice decorated for bravery. A popular policeman with the public and within the force.
BNPSPolice Constable Lorne Castle, twice decorated for bravery, was sacked over his aggressive arrest of a knife-carrying teen[/caption]
This is the moment PC Lorne Castle pinned the teen downDorset Police
And then, one day, his career was over. Sacked for “gross misconduct”.
What happened was this. Lorne was called to make an arrest of a teenager suspected of assaulting two people.
Lorne shouted at the boy to stop screaming and resisting arrest. He pushed him to the floor and put a hand over his face. He swore at him. Swearing is of course very rude. None of us should swear.
The result was that after a 16-month inquiry, during which he was suspended from his duties, Lorne was sacked.
He was placed on the police debarred list, which stops him ever working with the police again.
His life has been ruined. The panel that sacked him claimed he had failed to treat the suspect with “respect and courtesy”. Incredible, no? “Hello old chap! I hope you are living your best life! I wonder if I could ask you . . . Oh, OK, goodbye then.”
The panel also said that Lorne’s behaviour made the boy feel “frightened and intimidated”. Good! How was he meant to feel? Elated and relaxed? Warm and comfortable?
A whip-round among officers has provided him with some of his wages. And a retired Chief Inspector has spoken in his favour.
DID HIS JOB
But what did his boss have to say? Dorset police’s deputy chief Rachel Farrell said the sacking was right.
She added: “(Officers) do a tough job and when their actions are proportionate, necessary and reasonable they will always be supported.”
That, it turns out, was a lie. The constabulary even issued footage of the arrest in an attempt to make Lorne look more aggressive. Stripped out of context, the film is quite brutal.
But here’s the point. The boy was not hurt. And an armed suspect was arrested. Maybe Lorne shouldn’t have called him a bitch. We can argue over that.
But the truth is that Lorne did a wholly effective job in what was a very dangerous situation. And then got dragged through the mire for doing what he thought was his duty.
To keep the public safe from hoodied scrotes carrying knives.
But today our society is on the side of the skanks and the scrotes. They have their Yuman Roights which must not be transgressed. Doesn’t matter what they do. They must be respected.
The truth is that Castle did a wholly effective job in what was a very dangerous situation.
Rod Liddle
And so we let shoplifters go free, cos they’re poor innit.
Almost no burglars are caught because society today doesn’t think crimes against property are terribly important.
Judges and tribunals tell asylum seekers they can remain here no matter what heinous crimes they have committed.
Because their rights trump our right not to be raped or stabbed or burgled.
And the few people who try to do the right thing? Like Lorne Castle, they end up being sacked.
TAXING FUTURE FOR US
ONE way or another we’re about to get clobbered with a tax rise.
It’s the only way Rachel from Accounts can get the books to tally.
And my guess – based upon observing her previous interventions in the economy – is that she will raise precisely the wrong taxes.
There will be taxes on the very people who might otherwise spend money and get the economy moving.
Her Budget last autumn sent the British economy into a sharp downward spiral.
She had stressed that her priority was for growth.
And then she went and slapped National Insurance on the very people who should be responsible for that growth – the small and medium businesses.
How long before Sir Keir Starmer has had enough of Reeves?
We’ve all had it up to here.
An E.T. solution for gloomy-moon mob
GettyA psychic American man called Ingo Swann claims a colony of aliens are on the dark side of the moon[/caption]
SuppliedHe also claims the CIA got him to train his powers on the moon’s far side[/caption]
APPARENTLY there’s a colony of aliens living secretly on the dark side of the moon.
The Americans know all about it, but have been sworn to secrecy.
They look like us and have built a tower bigger than the Empire State Building. (The aliens, I mean. But the Americans too I suppose).
This all comes from the diaries released by a psychic American man called Ingo Swann, who claims the CIA got him to train his powers on the moon’s far side.
And what I want to know is did these spies do this exercise for a laugh in their lunch hour?
And if not, shouldn’t we point out to the aliens that the other side of the moon is far nicer?
BIAS AT BEEB IS CLEAR
GOOD for Karoline Leavitt.
Donald Trump’s communications chief may spell her name funny, but she can also spot bad journalism from a mile away.
And so she turned her attention to the BBC. Which had filed a report blaming Israel for an attack. When it wasn’t Israel.
As Leavitt said, the Beeb just took the word of Hamas at face value. No querying or fact checking.
If the lovely little squirrels of Hamas say something happened, then something happened.
Karoline, we’ve had to put up with this standard of reporting ever since Hamas invaded.
Hamit was protesting about the increasing Islamisation of the country of his birth.
PAHamit Coskun was found guilty of a religiously aggravated public order offence and fined £240 for burning a Koran[/caption]
While he was making his protest he was attacked by a man with a knife.
A delivery driver then kicked him in the back as he lay on the ground.
Remarkably, the fact he was attacked was used by the judge to support his guilty sentence to the crime of “using disorderly behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress.”
The judge is, I think, an idiot. And no matter how they try to word it, we now have a blasphemy law in this country – but only for Islam.
2 weeks agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Inside Michael Schumacher’s tragic health battle in Majorca hideaway – as pal makes heartbreaking prediction for future
WITH fists pumping and arms aloft, racing great Michael Schumacher celebrated his many victories with the same energy as his driving.
And that is how the Formula One team boss who helped turn the German legend into a champion three decades ago prefers to think of him.
AP:Associated PressMichael Schumacher in his prime competing for Ferrari at the Chinese Grand Prix in 2004[/caption]
Pictures show the helicopter rescue operation in 2013 following Michael’s skiing accident in the French resort of MeribelNick HaleyMichael with wife Corinna and their children Gina-Maria and Mick in 2021 Netflix documentaryNetflix
Not as the incapacitated survivor of a horrific skiing accident that Schumacher is said to have become.
“I prefer to remember him like that rather than him just lying on a bed.”
Flavio’s comments reveal the day-to-day struggles faced by the now-reclusive sporting hero, who once epitomised the swashbuckling spirit of adrenaline sport.
Schumacher, 56, would go wheel-to-wheel with rivals at extreme speeds on the scariest of bends en route to a record-breaking seven Formula One world championships.
Off the track he would party with pals, smoke big cigars, sky dive, scuba dive and fly helicopters.
‘Michael communicates with his eyes’
But nothing has been seen of Michael since his near-fatal crash on Alpine slopes in France on December 29, 2013.
Rumours of some medical miracles, appearances, fresh photos and interviews frequently spread online.
But a Formula One insider tells The Sun that like Flavio, the world needs to get used to not seeing Michael’s beaming smile any more.
Craig Scarborough, who has been covering the sport for around 25 years and interviewed Michael many times, reveals: “I spoke to someone who is very, very close to him and they just explained we’re not going to hear any more from him.
“He’s in a comfortable position as far as he can be with his state of health.”
It has also been reported that only three people see Michael at his secluded home on the Spanish holiday island of Majorca.
Even Flavio, 75, who has been a close friend of Michael since they began working together at the Benetton racing team in 1991, has not seen him for a while.
Much of her time is said to be consumed by maintaining her husband’s care and keeping the exact details of his current health condition a secret.
And Corinna has also had to cope with all the distress of dealing with a blackmail plot.
Yilmaz Tozturkan, 53, and his son Daniel Lins, 30, had threatened to publish videos and pictures of Michael 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.
Michael on the slopes in Italy in 2003Rex FeaturesCorinna and Gina accepting a German lifetime achievement award on Michael’s behalf in 2022 in CologneRex
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.
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.”
Guests and staff had to hand over their mobile phones, while security guards made sure no one could snoop on the ceremony or party.
But Michael’s former Benetton teammate Johnny Herbert said: “From what I understand, that was all fake news.”
We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he’s comfortable.
Corinna Schumacher
While it remains possible that Schumacher did attend the wedding in a wheelchair, another story was definitely made up.
Last year Corinna successfully sued German magazine Die Aktuelle for claiming on its cover “Michael Schumacher, the first interview!”
In fact the quotes had been generated by artificial intelligence.
What no outsider can be sure about is whether Michael could give an interview if he wanted to.
There have been conflicting accounts of his health condition.
When Michael’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 Michael to take some small steps, but that was later dismissed.
GettyMichael won a record-breaking seven Formula One world championships[/caption]
GettyFlavio Briatore, seen here at Monaco GP last month, spoke about his former Benetton driver[/caption]
Most people in the know indicate that he is unable to talk, although it is possible he could use eye movements to send messages like the late scientist Stephen Hawking did.
In 2020 Flavio’s former wife Elisabetta Gregoraci claimed that: “Michael doesn’t speak, he communicates with his eyes.”
Friends do visit and he still follows sports.
Former FerrariF1 chief Jean Todt said: “I can see him but of course, what I miss is what we used to do together.
“I watch Grand Prix with Michael.”
Corinna also indicated there was an attempt to maintain normality in difficult circumstances.
She said in a 2021 Netflix documentary: “We’re together.
“We live together at home.
“We do therapy.
“We’re trying to carry on as a family’
“We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he’s comfortable. And to simply make him feel our family, our bond.
“And no matter what, I will do everything I can. We all will.
“We’re trying to carry on as a family, the way Michael liked it and still does.”
I hope they can find happiness in the situation they find themselves in.
Craig Scarborough
It was reported by German media, ahead of the ten-year anniversary of his skiing accident in 2023, that Schumacher receives 24-hour care from a team of up to 15 people.
He has been driven in a Mercedes road car, and played sounds from the F1 track, to stimulate his brain with familiar noises.
There has been some good family news to lift Michael’s spirits.
Last month he became a grandfather for the first time when Gina gave birth to her daughter Millie.
His son, 26-year-old Mick, who spent two years as a F1 driver, was only 14 when his dad suffered the debilitating head injury.
In the Netflix documentary he admitted he would give “anything” to talk to him about the sport again.
Mick said: “I think dad and I would understand each other in a different way now, simply because we speak a similar language, the language of motorsport, and we would have a lot to talk about.
“That’s where my head is at most of the time, thinking that would be so cool. I’d give anything just for that.”
Mick found love with Danish model Laila Hasanovic, 26, in 2023 — and although they have recently been rumoured to have split up, she was reportedly trusted enough by the family to be one of the few people to have visited Michael.
Craig reckons having close personal time with Mick and other family members is vital for the stricken motorsports star.
Physical workload
He says: “I think a lot of people demand stuff from him and I think that’s wrong.
“He is himself, and his family have a lot to contend with.
“Until you’ve cared for somebody, I don’t think anyone realises the emotion and the physical workload.
“The fact that they have been bold enough to withdraw from public life and not be tempted to do exclusives out there to various people, I think, is noble, and I hope that continues.
“I hope they can find happiness in the situation they find themselves in.”
Like Flavio, Craig is more comfortable talking about the Michael people knew before the ski tragedy.
He says: “He was a guy who enjoyed his personal time.
“He loved his family.
“He did lots of lovely things.
“He clearly liked a drink and he loved a big cigar.
“But he had lots of time to bring up his son.”
While it is understandable that Michael’s army of fans want to hear from him again, they may have to make do with recalling his past glories.
There were certainly more than enough of them for Flavio and others to remember.
