A "positive" health update on Michael Schumacher has been given nearly 12 years on from his life-altering ski accident.
In 2013, a year after retiring from the sport, Formula One legend Schumacher was involved in the horrific accident while with his son Mick in the French Alps.
Schumacher hit his head on a rock and was immediately airlifted to hospital.
Suffering from a traumatic brain injury, the seven-time world champion underwent two surgeries before being placed in a medically-induced coma until June 2014.
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Schumacher's family have made a conscious effort to maintain a high level of privacy and there have been very few updates released on the German's situation - other than the fact that he resides in Switzerland.
There were reports that he attended the wedding of his daughter Gina-Maria when she tied knot with husband Iain Bethke but that was later denied.
However, Stéfan L'Hermitt of L'Equipe, believes there may have been positive progress made by Schumacher in recent times.
Sharing his theory on 'Le Grand Recit', he said: "I would say he's not doing well, but he might be getting better because fundamentally we don't know anything
This year, he signed a helmet for a charity event. Was it his wife who held his hand? We don't know exactly, but it's the first time we've had a kind of positive sign, almost a sign of life."
L'Hermitt did still stress that he has heard that Schumacher is still unable to speak or communicate but believes the news about a helmet being signed could well be "the first positive sign since his accident."
In a Netflix documentary about Schumacher, his wife, Corinna, explained that he is "here" and although he is "different" - his mere presence "gives us strength".
She also stressed that it is "very important to me that he can continue to enjoy his private life as much as possible", hence why only a close circle of people have been to visit Schumacher.
Threats to Schumacher's family
There have been high-profile scandals where that privacy has been breached, however, with Schumacher's medical records stolen and reportedly offered to media outlets to publish for a fee of £40,000.
Earlier this year, three men were found guilty of lodging a blackmail plot, having threatened to release 'intimate medical images', videos and records unless a fee of £12 million was paid.
Markus F, A former security guard of Schumacher's received a suspended two-year sentence, while former nightclub bouncer Yilmaz T, 53, was sentenced to three years in prison.
His son was handed a six-month suspended sentence after being found guilty of aiding and abetting extortion, with the family not happy with the punishments sanctioned and vowing to appeal.
"We have appealed against what we consider to be the far too lenient sentence for Mr F," a statement from a representative of Schumacher's wife, Corinna, read.
"In my opinion, he was the mastermind behind this. What still shocks me most is the massive breach of trust. He should receive a punishment that deters any potential copycats."
Schumacher competed for the likes of Jordan, Benetton, Ferrari and Mercedes, claiming 91 Grand Prix wins, 68 pole positions and 77 fastest laps.
Topics: Michael Schumacher, Formula 1
Josh Lawless