This month, news broke of a tragic holiday accident involving another sports figure, bringing back the terrifying memory of Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher’s life-changing skiing accident, a fall in the French Alps that cracked his helmet and left him in a coma with severe brain injuries. Schumacher made it through his trauma, but he had to leave public life and deal with harsh, private consequences.

On the other hand, 34-year-old German soccer player Sebastian Hertner suffered a much worse end. As reported by The Touchline on X, “German footballer Sebastian Hertner dies after falling 70 meters from a chairlift during a ski holiday in Montenegro.”

The German soccer star fell roughly 70 meters after a double chairlift collision at the Savin Kuk ski resort in northern Montenegro, killing him. As per the U.S. Sun, the chairlift slid backwards and smashed into the seat behind, trapping his wife. She survived but suffered severe injuries and had to go to the hospital with a fractured leg after becoming trapped in the broken chair.

Michael Schumacher, a seven-time F1 world champion who was in great shape and liked to challenge himself, hit a rock while skiing in a familiar place off the beaten path. His helmet saved his life, but doctors said he was “fighting for his life” in the hours that followed. For Hertner, the danger didn’t come from making a mistake on a challenging run; it came from a terrible malfunction.

The incident left at least three other tourists stranded on the lift for several hours, compounding the day’s horror. The local mayor immediately ordered a comprehensive investigation and the closure of the lift, but the shockwaves extended far beyond the Durmitor mountains.

No less painful than Michael Schumacher’s tragedy

The widespread mourning after the deadly ski accident that killed German soccer player Sebastian Hertner shows that the tragedy goes much deeper than the death of one athlete. A lot of responses link the event to a deep fear that many winter sports fans have, as one person put it: “Biggest fear unlocked. This is such a tragedy in some many levels. I’ve always feared for something like this when I’m in those chairlifts, Ngl some of those have been a bit rusty and making wired noises. RIP.”

The quick, almost instinctive connection to another sports legend, Michael Schumacher, adds a deep dimension of sadness. “Such a tragic story. What makes it even more chilling is how it echoes Michael Schumacher’s skiing accident, one moment you are on holiday, doing something millions of people do for fun, and in a split second everything changes forever. RIP Sebastian, and strength to your wife and family,” a fan said.

The tragedy has caused a painful sense of pattern in the German sports community, with one person questioning, “What’s wrong with german athletes and skiing…schumacher who was in a coma, neuer with a broken leg which nearly derailed his career, now this..I am so furious hearing this bad news.”

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This is similar to a number of well-known events, such as the brain injuries that changed Michael Schumacher’s life and the leg injury that nearly ended Manuel Neuer’s career while skiing. The detail that Hertner’s wife survived the fall, seriously injured and trapped beside him, has left people haunted.

A fan wrote, “Horrible. RIP, Sebastian. Condolences and wishes for a quick and complete recovery to his wife.” Another fan shared a similar sentiment, “Rip champ…Holiday turns tragedy, just imagining what the wife is feeling.” This terrible accident is really a strong reminder of how fragile life is.