Christian Neureuther: A tick almost killed me – people

Only in the crisis does it become apparent how close a family is.

Christian Neureuther (72) also had to experience this. While making wood in the forest, the ski legend was bitten by a tick in summer. Neureuther became infected with so-called early summer meningoencephalitis (TBE), a serious disease of the brain and meninges. If it remains undetected, there is a mortal danger.

Neureuther to BILD am SONNTAG: “I was very lucky. I hadn’t noticed the tick bite itself. It wasn’t until a few weeks after the wood was cut that I was not feeling well. I thought it was shingles. Then, under pressure from our son, I went to the Garmisch hospital. “

+++ BILD is now also on TV! Click here for BILD LIVE +++


In good times and bad: Christian Neureuther has been married to double Olympic champion Rosi Mittermaier since 1980

In good times and bad: Christian Neureuther has been married to double Olympic champion Rosi Mittermaier since 1980Photo: picture alliance / dpa

Then in the hospital the shock diagnosis: meningitis! Neureuther came on the IV: “I have no memory of the first week. I was completely apathetic, had impaired consciousness and probably also a fever. ”In addition, there were speech disorders, similar to a stroke.

His wife, Olympic champion Rosi Mittermeier (71), sat by his bed every day. Son Felix (37) also took great care of his father. Neureuther: “I then came to the Innsbruck Clinic in the neurological department. My brain was no longer working properly. Everything swam from left to right before my eyes. The dizziness was madness. At night when I had to go to the toilet, it really hit me on the wall. I couldn’t hold myself upright. “

After three weeks Christian Neureuther came to the rehabilitation clinic at Thiersee / Austria, where he received therapy for three weeks. Neureuther still has to nibble at the after-effects of the serious illness: “I still have severe back pain today. Turning my head is still not easy for me. “

He has lost six kilos, the blood pressure is still too low, “but that’ll be fine. I firmly believe that the psyche also helps and heals a lot, ”says Christian Neureuther. His optimism and the support of his family also helped him: “I was never really desperate during this bad phase. We as a family said: We can do it. I had the very best doctors, my Rosi, our children and the grandchildren. “


Christian Neureuther: A tick almost killed me

Photo: BILD

In the meantime his whole family got vaccinated against TBE. Neureuther: “I can only advise everyone: Check whether you need to refresh your vaccination or get vaccinated in winter so that you are protected in spring.”

Christian Neureuther himself no longer has to be afraid of the disease: “If you’ve had TBE, you’re immune to the virus for ten years.”

Neureuther can even get something good out of the difficult time: “This phase in my life also gave me something that I hadn’t known before. Peace and quiet – and time with my Rosi. “

.
source site