UPDATE: Jan 2 2014 From BBC

Michael Schumacher ‘will not give up’ – family

The family of injured Formula 1 driver Michael Schumacher has thanked fans for their “great support”.

“We all know he is a fighter and will not give up,” the family said in an online statement.

The most successful F1 racer in history is in a medically induced coma in hospital in Grenoble, after a skiing accident in the French Alps.

Schumacher, who turns 45 on Friday, remains in a stable but critical condition, his manager said earlier.

The German had been skiing off-piste when he fell and hit his head on Sunday. His helmet cracked on impact after hitting a rock.

Doctors confirmed on Tuesday that Schumacher had shown signs of improvement, but was still “not out of danger”.

They ruled out giving a prognosis for his condition in the coming days and months.

But it is medically possible for someone to spend several weeks in an induced coma and fully recover from it.

For more go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25582925

F1 Star Remains ‘Stable‘

From Sky News UK

The Formula One star’s agent says he is stable, but that the overall situation “remains critical” after his skiing accident.

Michael Schumacher’s agent has said his condition has remained stable overnight in a French hospital after a skiing accident.

Speaking to reporters outside the hospital in Grenoble, Sabine Kehm said: “Michael’s condition has been supervised all the night and has remained stable over the night and also now.

“The good news for today is we do not have the feeling to hold a press conference because there’s no significant changes.”

She added the “situation remained critical” and would not comment on his prospects for recovery.

Original story from From BBC Sunday 29 December 2013

Michael Schumacher, seven-time Formula 1 world champion, is in a “critical condition” after a skiing accident, says the French hospital at which he is being treated.

The 44-year-old German suffered a serious brain trauma, was in a coma on his arrival and has undergone a brain operation, the Grenoble hospital said.

Schumacher’s management confirmed his critical condition.

He was skiing off-piste with his son in the Alps when the accident occurred.

Schumacher was wearing a helmet when he fell and hit his head against a rock, Meribel resort director Christophe Gernignon-Lecomte said earlier.

Early reports had said his condition was not life-threatening and he reportedly walked away from the accident complaining only of feeling a bit shaken.

Mr Gernignon-Lecomte said Schumacher was attended to by two ski patrollers who requested helicopter evacuation to the nearby valley town of Moutiers.

He was subsequently moved to the bigger facility at Grenoble, in south-east France. His wife Corinna and two children are with him.

“Mr Schumacher was admitted to the University Hospital of Grenoble at 12:40 [11:40 GMT], following a skiing accident which occurred in Meribel in the late morning,” the statement said.

“He suffered a severe head injury with coma on arrival, which required immediate neurosurgical intervention. He remains in a critical situation.”

The hospital statement was signed by the facility’s neurosurgeon, the professor in charge of its anaesthesia/revival unit, and the hospital’s deputy director, reports said.

A hospital official declined to give more details and said more information would be given out on Monday, said Reuters news agency.

Experts say it is likely that his brain began to swell and the urgent surgery was required to relieve the pressure, says the BBC’s Hugh Schofield in Paris.
Stellar career

The German, who is due to turn 45 on 3 January, retired from F1 for a second time in 2012.

Professor Gerard Saillant, a close ally and friend of Schumacher, and his former Ferrari team boss Jean Todt are at the hospital.

Prof Saillant is an expert in brain and spine injury. He oversaw Schumacher’s medical care when the German broke his leg in the 1999 British GP.

Schumacher won seven world championships and secured 91 race victories during a 19-year career in Formula 1.

He won two titles with Benetton, in 1994 and 1995, before switching to Ferrari in 1996 and going on to win five straight titles from 2000.

The German retired in 2006, but returned in 2010 with Mercedes. After three seasons which yielded just one podium finish, he quit the sport at the end of 2012.

For more on this story go to:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25545993