Michael Schumacher hurt in French Alps skiing accident

The 44-year-old German was wearing a helmet and was conscious while being transported to a local hospital in Moutiers, the resort director, Christophe Gernigon-Lecomte, told Reuters.

Mr Gernigon-Lecomte said Schumacher, who has a vacation home in Meribel, had been skiing off piste.

He said: “He fell around 11am and hit a rock with his head,” he added.

“It seems that he has suffered a head trauma, but I would not say how serious it is. He was conscious but very agitated while being taken to hospital.”

‘Fell on his head’

In an email to The Associated Press, Schumacher’s manager said the retired driver was on a private skiing trip and “fell on his head”.

“We ask for understanding that we cannot give running updates on his condition. He wore a helmet and was not alone,” she said.

The manager added that no one else was involved in the accident.

Schumacher, whose birthday is on 3 January, is the most successful Formula One driver of all time with a record 91 victories among his achievements. He won his titles with Benetton and Ferrari.

He left the sport last year after a three-year comeback with Mercedes following an earlier retirement from Ferrari at the end of 2006. The German lives in Switzerland with his wife and two children.