Michael Schumacher's father has arrived at the hospital where his son is fighting for his life after his horrific skiing accident in the French Alps.
Rolf Schumacher, who introduced his son to kart racing at the age of four, joined other family members for a bedside vigil as doctors revealed the Formula One star was showing 'slight signs of improvement'.
Schumacher’s wife, Corinna, 14-year-old son Mick and daughter Gina-Marie, 16, have surrounded the seven-time champion with lucky charms they hope will bring him good fortune when he needs it most.
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In shock: Michael Schumacher's father, Rolf Schumacher (centre), arrives at the Grenoble University Hospital Centre where his son is being treated
Concern: Rolf Schumacher has joined the F1 star's wife and children who are holding a vigil at his bedside
Influence: Michael Schumacher made his racing debut at the age of four at a kart track run by his father
However, in a cynical ploy, it emerged today that a reporter tried to take advantage of the family's spiritual beliefs by disguising himself as a priest in an attempt to gain access to Schumacher.
The journalist, who has not been identified, was stopped before reaching intensive care and was removed from the hospital.
Schumacher’s manager Sabine Kehm said: 'Apparently a journalist dressed as a priest had tried to gain access to Michael’s room. I would not have ever imagined something like this could happen.'
Speaking at a press conference at the
hospital today, his medical team said a two-hour procedure was carried
out overnight to remove a blood clot after scans showed he was stable
enough for surgery.
But his medical team warned he was 'not out of danger' and were still assessing his progress on an hourly basis.
Time of the essence: This is the moment a rescue helicopter collects Michael Schumacher minutes after he hit his head on a rock while skiing off-piste in the French resort of Meribel on Sunday
Video of the rescue emerged as doctors said Schumacher faces a 'decisive' 48 hours in his fight for life
Neurosurgeon Emmanuel Gay, who performed the operation, said it was 'thanks to a window of improvement' that they took the decision to operate.
'But there's still a long path to follow. We can't give any forecasts. The situation is still critical,' he added.
He said 'a discussion' had taken place with Schumacher's family before the highly risky operation took place. 'The family is always informed,' he said.
His comments came as new video footage showed the dramatic moment Schumacher was airlifted to hospital after banging his head on a rock while skiing off-piste with son Mick.
Vigil: Schumacher's wife Corrina (pictured with her husband at the Asterix At The Olympic Games Paris premiere in Paris in 2008) is by his beside in hospital as he fights for life
Michael Schumacher with his wife Corinna skiing in the Dolomites in January 2003
Risky: The retired racing driver hit his head on a rock while skiing off-piste with his 14-year-old son Mick (believed to be pictured, above, with his father) in the resort of Meribel on Sunday
SCHUEY'S WIFE PLACES LUCKY CHARMS AROUND HOSPITAL BED
Michael Schumacher's wife has placed lucky charms around his bed in the hope they will bring him good fortune when he needs it most.
During their 22 years together, 18 of them in marriage, Corinna Schumacher has never once wavered in her support for him during a career that was a constant threat to his life.
As well as lighting candles next to him, she has brought a hair brush that belongs to their daughter Gina Marie, 16, a golden cross belonging to his 14-year-old son Mick and an amulet of one of his employees called Lindsay that he took with him on every race.
Of the golden cross, now standing by his headboard, Corinna said: 'Mick discovered it when he was on holiday with his grandma. It has even been blessed.'
The footage shows a medical evacuation helicopter initially taking the Formula One star to hospital in the nearby town of Moutiers.
But he was immediately transferred to a specialist trauma unit 80 miles away in Grenoble when his condition deteriorated rapidly.
Meanwhile, a source close to the investigation said that Schumacher's helmet was smashed 'in two' by the impact.
The German newspaper Bild also quoted a rescuer as saying the split helmet was 'full of blood'.
Schumacher's family in a statement expressed their thanks to the doctors who they said were doing 'everything possible to help Michael' and to well-wishers around the world.
The retired driver is in an induced coma following surgery after he suffered a severe head injury while skiing off-piste in the resort of Meribel in France on Sunday.
Critical: The seven-time champion (pictured on the slopes in 2006) has undergone emergency surgery after suffering a brain hemorrhage in the skiing accident in the French Alpine resort of Meribel
Scene: This is the off-piste spot where Formula One legend Michael Schumacher is believed to have fallen
Hazardous: The area where he fell is between two marked runs ¿ a red, for intermediate skiers, and a blue, for beginners
Danger: The area is not considered particularly steep, but the dangers are the rocks, which are protruding from the snow more than usual because of the lack of snow in Meribel this season
His medical team has refused to speculate on a prognosis for the 44-year-old German.
But professor Stephan Chabardes, the neurosurgeon who operated on him, said yesterday that the 'next 24 or 48 hours will be decisive'.
He told The Times: 'He was operated upon in a serious condition with a serious, severe brain trauma. We are following the evolution hour by hour.
'He is in a critical condition. The operation was to evacuate the haematoma (bleeding) that could be evacuated. Now we need to protect his brain.'
Positive progress: Schumacher's medical team updates the media on the ex-F1 driver's condition
Cautious: Anesthetist Jean-Francois Payen (second left) warned that Schumacher was 'not out of danger'
Updates: French surgeon and Michael Schumacher's friend, Professor Gerard Saillant (centre) addresses the press conference
His comments came as the first pictures emerged of the off-piste area where Schumacher crashed, reportedly while he skied at up to 62mph.
The
ex-Formula One driver suffered a brain haemorrhage after falling and
hitting his head on a rock so hard that his helmet cracked.
Surgeons performed an emergency operation to reduce pressure on Schumacher’s brain, but said it was too early to 'predict the future' as to what recovery he would make and whether there would be any long-term damage.
The seven-time F1 champion is in an artificial coma at a hospital in Grenoble, France, and is being assessed every hour.
Keeping them in the loop: The doctors said 'a discussion' had taken place with Schumacher's family before the highly risky second operation to remove a blood clot took place
Shockwaves: Dozens of journalists crammed into a conference room at the hospital to relay the latest updates on Schumacher's condition around the world
Treatment: Surgeons at Grenoble Hospital (pictured) are assessing Schumacher's recovery on an hourly basis
Schumacher fell as he skied with his 14-year-old son Mick in the Trois Vallees near the resort of Meribel on Sunday morning.
His medical team yesterday said Schumacher would be dead if he had not worn a helmet, which protected him from a ‘very violent shock.’
Professor Stephan Chabardes, the neurosurgeon who operated on him, said he had suffered from intracranial haematoma – bleeding on the brain – and that scans showed signs of damage to his brain and a build-up of fluid.
Anaesthetist Jean-Francois Payen said: ‘We judge him to be in a very serious situation. We cannot predict the future for Michael Schumacher.
‘It’s too early to say what is going to happen and to have a prognosis. Taking into consideration the very violent shock, his helmet did protect him to a certain extent, of course.
‘Somebody who would have this kind of accident without a helmet, certainly, he would not have got to here.’
Professor Payen said that after the fall Schumacher was not in a ‘normal state of consciousness.’ He was not responding to questions and ‘making spontaneous movements of his four limbs’, he added.
He said Schumacher was being kept in a state of hypothermia to minimise stimuli to his brain.
Schumacher’s wife, Corinna, son Mick and 16-year-old daughter Gina-Marie were last night keeping vigil by his bedside.
Schumacher, who turns 45 on Friday, is a strong skier and knows the Meribel area well as he owns a chalet nearby.
The ski resort of Meribel in France where Michael Schumacher was injured in a skiing accident
Passionate skier: The chalet (centre) reportedly owned by Schumacher in a private hamlet in Meribel
Schumacher was airlifted to hospital in Grenoble, 80km west of the Meribel resort
The area where he fell is between two marked runs – a red, for intermediate skiers, and a blue, for beginners. It is not considered particularly steep, but the dangers are the rocks, which are protruding from the snow more than usual because of the lack of snow in Meribel this season.
Some skiers use the section to pass between the pistes on either side. Many stronger skiers seek out such areas, enjoying the thrill of precision-skiing in between the rocky obstacles.
A
spokesman for the company in charge of the ski area, Meribel-Alpina,
said: ‘Michael Schumacher has been faithful to Meribel for many years
and knows the area.
'He made the choice to ski off-piste and given the current circumstances, it is a choice that presents a number of risks.
'We have had low snowfall in recent days and the snow is unstable. The rocks protrude or are partially hidden.’
Deputy director Jean Marc Grenier talks to media outside the CHU Nord hospital in Grenoble, French Alps
A Ferrari fan waits in front of the emergency department of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire hospital, French Alps, where German seven times Formula one world champion Michael Schumacher is reported to be treated
It was a crisp morning and visibility was good. But somehow Schumacher lost control. Some have speculated he may have ‘caught an edge’ of his ski, hit a hidden rock or was skiing too fast.
Messages of support have poured in for Schumacher. German chancellor Angela Merkel said she was ‘extremely shocked along with millions of Germans’ to learn of the accident.
British former F1 champion Jenson Button posted a message on Twitter saying: ‘Michael, more than anyone, has the strength to pull through this.’
And David Coulthard, a racing contemporary of Schumacher, said: ‘As I know Michael from the racetrack, there is no question in my mind that he has the physical ability to take on this challenge – the greatest challenge of his life.’
It is believed the 44-year-old has been transported to hospital near the resort in the province of Savoie in France
Schumacher carving a turn while skiing at the Italian resort of Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, in 2000
CHILLING ECHO OF TRAGIC NATASHA RICHARDSON'S FALL
Michael Schumacher regained consciousness quickly and was able to talk to medics after his fall – but this can be typical for victims of life-threatening brain injuries.
Many feel relatively well for hours after the accident, and there are often no immediate symptoms that indicate trauma to the brain. This lack of reaction, known as a lucid interval, can come after the most serious of injuries.
Any delay in medical attention can have fatal consequences, as blood builds up between the skull and the brain, putting extreme pressure on brain tissue.
This is known as an epidural haematoma. Natasha Richardson, pictured above, died after developing the condition following a skiing accident in 2009. The actress, 45, fell and hit her head on a beginner's slope during a ski lesson in Canada.
Miss Richardson, who was not wearing a helmet at the time, initially seemed unhurt. She was seen laughing after she got up from the fall and refused to see a doctor.
But an hour later she started having headaches and was taken to hospital. By the time she received medical care, the bleed had cause significant brain damage. She died two days later.
Victims of falls are urged to seek medical attention immediately. If an epidural haematoma is identified in its early stages, the blood can be removed surgically to reduce the pressure on the brain.
Schumacher is widely regarded as one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time, having won the most championships, race victories, fastest laps, pole positions and races in a single season.
He won the championship seven times, and retired officially at the end of the 2012 season, having returned from a four-year break from the sport.
He turned down the chance to drive for Lotus in the final two races of this year.
Schumacher suffered fractures in his head and neck when he fell off his motorcycle in Spain in February 2009.
He had suffered pains in his neck ever since and is understood that his ski accident on Sunday has impacted on his old injuries.
Schumacher and his family live in a lakeside mansion in Switzerland worth £50million.
The huge property borders Lake Geneva and is thought to contain its own underground petrol station.
He has an extensive classic car collection and a trophy room for the awards he has collected during his racing career.
He was once described as the first billionaire sportsmen, amassing a huge personal fortune during his career.
When he was enticed out of retirement in 2010 he reportedly signed a £30 million-a-year contract with the Mercedes team.
But the driver's lifestyle has remained relatively modest in comparison to some of his flashier colleagues.
Schumacher still drives a Fiat for personal and family use – perhaps explained by his modest upbringing.
His father was a bricklayer, but he took on a second job repairing go-karts to support the young Michael's hobby as his talent became obvious, while his mother worked at racing track canteen.
Michael Schumacher's damaged Ferrari is lifted onto a flat bed truck, after he crashed into a tyre wall on the first lap at Stowe corner, during the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in 1999
Schumacher is carried on a stretcher by paramedics and track marshals, after he crashed his Ferrari during the first lap of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in 1999
WHEN A BUMP ON THE HEAD CAN KILL - BY DAVID HURST
The frightening truth is that even a minor blow to the head can have catastrophic effects – and ski slopes can be dangerous places.
Kate Fothringham, 44, is proof of that. The mother of two boys, aged eight and 12, had what she assumed was a minor bump to the head during a family skiing trip but, four years on, she is still suffering the after-effects.
And she says news of Michael Schumacher’s injury ‘resonated with me totally’.
Kate from Perth, Scotland, was having a beginners’ snowboarding lesson on the nursery slopes in France in April 2010 when two men skied into her and her instructor, knocking her over.
She was unconscious for less than a minute and was instantly back on her feet, but the damage had been done.
Kate had a scan as a precaution, but the microscopic changes were too subtle to show up and she thought she had escaped with a ‘thunderous headache’.
But once she was back home, Kate found herself groping for words, lacking concentration and struggling to make decisions.
She felt constantly exhausted, had a chronic headache and developed a stutter when stressed.
She couldn’t watch television because light and noise were painful, and she regularly felt anxious and tearful. Her husband Thomas, a 42-year-old financial director, was understandably worried. ‘I felt overwhelmed by the tiniest things – it was like I was holding on to life by my fingertips,’ she said.
No time to lose: A diagram explaining the dangers of a subdural hematoma, a potentially fatal brain injury which Michael Schumacher is believed to have suffered after his fall
It wasn’t until seven months after the accident that a neurologist ran cognitive tests that uncovered she had damage to the front of her brain, which controls decision-making and planning.
Years on, she still has memory problems and difficulty concentrating or making decisions. ‘There are certain things that are subtly different from before my accident. I still have head pain sometimes.’ Kate said.
‘I get tired more easily, particularly in social situations where lots of people are talking at once. I can enjoy going to parties again now, but know that I’ll be wiped out the next day.
‘My memory is still shaky – I can run the household but need to make lots of lists, and my husband Thomas is always saying I’ve forgotten things he’s told me.’
Each year around one million Britons end up in hospital after a bang to the head. According to the Mail’s resident GP Dr Martin Scurr, even everyday knocks can have serious consequences.
He said: ‘I’ve known of two people who died after falling off a chair while changing a lightbulb – it doesn’t have to be a very major injury. It’s how you fall and what hits the floor.’
He often hears from parents of children who have fallen in the playground. ‘As a GP you are always worried you’re maybe not taking it seriously enough. Often a mother will ring me, and say the child has fallen off a swing, and they wonder whether he should go to hospital.
‘I’ll ask whether he feels sick or seems his normal self, and most importantly, whether he’s been knocked out. If someone is not with it for even 30 seconds I’d say you should go to A&E for a CT scan.’
He added: ‘Even if you are wearing a helmet – like Schumacher was – it doesn’t mean you’re completely protected.
‘It might stop you fracturing your skull, but it doesn’t necessarily stop some vital blood vessel in the brain tearing.
‘The brain is like a blancmange in a biscuit tin. If you shake it about it will split and tear. So if you bang your head, even in a helmet, the brain can still shunt up to one side of the skull and bounce back and that may tear a blood vessel.’
How soon you see the effects of a brain injury can vary. Colin Shieff, consultant neurosurgeon at London’s Royal Free Hospital, said: ‘Bruises on the brain, called cerebral contusions, can develop into blood clots and cause a range of problems including a stroke.
‘As the brain swells, electrical signals between the thinking bits of the brain become affected. Later swelling can then affect conscious level and lead to coma.’ And in some cases, even death.
Anyone who feels unwell after banging their head should see a doctor or go to hospital to be checked, Mr Shieff said, adding: ‘It’s not remarkable to have some headache the next day or a few days afterwards.
‘But if functioning is abnormal – speech problems, vision, or just finding everything more difficult – this can be a problem.
‘With head bumps, you can’t always predict outcome. But generally, if someone is feeling fine 24 hours following a bump to the head, there’s likely to be no long-term problems.’
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