1 Jan 2014

Schumacher in ‘stable condition’

The Formula One legend continues to recover after suffering a near-fatal head injury while skiing, his manager says.

The seven-time Formula One champion fell while skiing off-piste in the resort of Meribel in France on Sunday.

He reportedly hit his head on a rock with a force that split his helmet, leaving him fighting for his life in a medically-induced coma.

Doctors said Schumacher’s condition improved slightly on Tuesday, and his manager Sabine Kehm said he remained stable on Wednesday morning.

In a brief statement to reporters on Wednesday morning, Ms Kehm said: “Michael’s condition has been supervised all night and has remained stable, overnight and also now.

“The good news for today is that we do not feel it necessary to hold a press conference because there are no significant changes.”

The 44-year-old German was conscious immediately the accident but deteriorated into a critical condition.

He was airlifted to Grenoble hospital, where neurosurgeons have operated twice to remove blood clots on the brain and reduce swelling.

Doctors have said the impact caused numerous brain injuries including multiple blood clots, lesions and bruising of the brain.

An operation carried out on Sunday to reduce swelling, was followed by a second to remove the largest of a number of clots in his brain.

Jacqueline Hubert, the Grenoble hospital’s director general, said yesterday his condition had started to improve.

Doctors said on Monday that the accident would certainly have killed the driver if he had not been wearing a helmet.

Ferrari fans outside the hospital where Schumacher is being treated (Reuters)

Reporter ‘posed as priest’

A journalist dressed as a priest tried to gain access to Michael Schumacher’s hospital room where he is being treated for head injuries suffered in a skiing accident, Ms Kehm told German media on Tuesday.

She also said Schumacher had gone to the aid of a friend before hitting a hidden rock.

Kehm, in quotes reported by German newspaper Die Welt, said: “Apparently a journalist dressed as a priest tried to gain access to Michael’s room. I wouldn’t have ever imagined something like this could happen.”

Describing the circumstances of the accident, she said: “Many people who were there have described the situation to me.

“Michael had helped up a fallen friend shortly before and was therefore not going at high speed.

“He then went over a boulder, which he had not seen, and as a result lost control. That he then hit his head against another rock is a great misfortune.”