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Reiner Ferling can still remember it as if it were yesterday. “On Sunday we go for a morning pint in the Rhineland. When I got home afterward around 2 p.m., I read online that Michael had been in a skiing accident. At first I didn’t think anything of it, but then the messages started pouring in and my phone wouldn’t ring a bell for hours.”
The German speaks about December 29, 2013, the day when Michael Schumacher had a serious accident while skiing in the French Alps.
Ten years have passed since then. Ten years of constant speculation about Schumi’s health. Ten years in which the family consistently shielded him from the public. Ten years in which Ferling also suffered with him.
The idea for his outfit originated in Bali
Ferling is something like Schumi’s biggest fan. The former postman has been the first chairman of the fan club since 2012. When the 71-year-old talks about his idol, he does not call him Schumi, but rather Michael or Mr. Schumacher. “I never wanted to be the intimate type with him. He was and is a person with respect for me.”
His passion for Schumacher started more than 30 years ago. Because Ferling was working in Schumi’s hometown of Kerpen at the time, he kept hearing: “Michael will be the next Formula 1 driver.” In 1991 the time finally came, and when he won his first of seven world titles in 1994, Ferling celebrated until four in the morning.
The fascination for Schumi grew over the years and with all the successes. When Ferling was on holiday in Bali after seeing a doctor in Malaysia, he had an idea. He bought an Asian rice hat, had a master carpenter put a base on it at home and decorated it with mini cars, a Schumacher figure and speakers. His Ferrari red outfit was ready. “The response to it was incredible. When I visited such a doctor, I couldn’t get far because everyone kept wanting to take pictures of me.”
Letter from the Schumacher family
Ferling also wears this outfit in his favorite photo. It came about when Schumacher’s karting track in Kerpen celebrated its tenth anniversary. «At that time, Michael gave a signing session. Previously it was said that photography was not allowed. But when Michael saw me, he said on his own, ‘Let’s take some pictures.'”
This photo remains sacred to Ferling to this day. Just like a letter he received from the Schumacher family seven years ago. Ferling was suffering from cancer at the time. One day he suddenly had mail from the Schumachers in his mailbox. «When I read the letter, I was completely speechless. The encouraging and comforting words touched me deeply and gave me a lot of strength.”
Today, pensioner Ferling is healthy again. But he also doesn’t know how Schumacher is doing. “And that’s okay,” he clarifies energetically, “I can’t understand the people who really want to know that. They feel entitled to it. But they haven’t. This is solely the decision of the Schumacher family.”
Source : Blick
I’m Emma Jack, a news website author at 24 News Reporters. I have been in the industry for over five years and it has been an incredible journey so far. I specialize in sports reporting and am highly knowledgeable about the latest trends and developments in this field.
