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Schumacher 'in critical condition' after hitting head on rock during skiing accident in French Alps

Written By JAK on Tuesday, December 31, 2013 | 7:45 PM


  • Schumacher is fighting for his life in a coma after operation on brain
  • The 44-year-old fell in Meribel in the French Alps after skiing off-piste with his 14-year-old son
  • Schumacher was wearing helmet and hit his head on a rock
  • The driver's wife and his two children are at his bedside
  • The German was airlifted to hospital in Grenoble, he regained consciousness but his condition quickly worsened
  • Schumacher, who retired from sport in 2012, won seven world titles with Benetton and Ferrari

Michael Schumacher continues to fight for his life after suffering lesions on his brain in an horrific skiing accident.

Doctors who treated the seven-time world champion admitted it was too early to say what would be the outcome of the emergency surgery undergone by Schumacher but conceded the former Formula One driver would ‘not be here’ had he not been wearing a crash helmet.

Schumacher suffered the life-threatening injuries after hitting his head on a rock while skiing off-piste in Meribel in the French Alps on Sunday morning.

Accident: Michael Schumacher, pictured in 2005, has suffered an accident while skiing

Accident: Michael Schumacher, pictured in 2005, has suffered an accident while skiing

On the slopes: The Formula One legend - pictured in 2005 - is fighting for his life after hitting his head

On the slopes: The Formula One legend - pictured in 2005 - is fighting for his life after hitting his head

Injured: Michael Schumacher was taken to hospital after suffering a head injury in a skiing accident

Injured: Michael Schumacher was taken to hospital after suffering a head injury in a skiing accident

High dependency: Schumacher is in hospital in Grenoble after being transported from the piste

High dependency: Schumacher is in hospital in Grenoble after being transported from the piste

On top of the world: Schumacher is hoisted aloft by mechanics after winning the 2001 Monaco Grand Prix

On top of the world: Schumacher is hoisted aloft by mechanics after winning the 2001 Monaco Grand Prix

Unstoppable: Scumacher won world titles in 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001 (above), 2003, 2004 and 2005

Unstoppable: Scumacher won world titles in 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001 (above), 2003, 2004 and 2005

In the spotlight: Deputy director Jean Marc Grenier talks to media outside the CHU Nord hospital in Grenoble

In the spotlight: Deputy director Jean Marc Grenier talks to media outside the CHU Nord hospital in Grenoble

Statement: Professor Jean-Francois Payen and assistant director Marc Penaud updated the press

Statement: Professor Jean-Francois Payen and assistant director Marc Penaud updated the press

SCHUMACHER BY NUMBERS

World championships: 7 (1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004)

Race wins: 91

Seasons in F1: 19

Points scored: 1,560

Points finishes: 220

Podiums: 155

After being airlifted by helicopter to a local hospital, Schumacher was quickly transferred  to a larger facilty in Grenoble where he fell into a coma before undergoing emergency surgery on his brain.

Speaking at press conference this morning, a spokesperson for the hospital in South West France said: ‘Michael Schumacher was the victim of very serious trauma. He was very agitated when he arrived and we decided he was in a critical situation and he quickly went into a coma.

‘The neurosurgical treatment he received brought us quite a lot of information. We had to operate urgently to release some pressure in his head. Unfortunately, he has some lesions within his brain.’

Chief anaesthesiologist professor Jean-Francois Payen added: ‘We can say he is fighting for his life. We think his helmet did help, without a helmet he wouldn't be here now. We judge him to be in a very serious situation. We cannot tell what the outcome will be yet. We are working hour-by-hour but it's too early to say what is going to happen and to have a prognosis.’

Professor Payen continued: ‘I'd say this accident happened in the right place because he was taken into hospital immediately and operated on as soon as he arrived, this meant his state is critical and he is still in a coma and he will be kept in a coma.

‘Everything that needed to be done has been done at the moment we can't really say when he will recover, we cannot answer this yet.

The greatest? Schumacher sits on his Ferrari after spinning off the track at Jerez during a training session in 2003

The greatest? Schumacher sits on his Ferrari after spinning off the track at Jerez during a training session in 2003

Way back when: Schumacher celebrates victory in Hungary on his way to his maiden title in 1994

Way back when: Schumacher celebrates victory in Hungary on his way to his maiden title in 1994

Make mine a double: Schumacher pictured after victory in Suzuka in 1995 to claim his second world title

Make mine a double: Schumacher pictured after victory in Suzuka in 1995 to claim his second world title

By his bedside: Schumacher's wife Corrina is in Grenoble. The couple married in 1995 and have two children

By his bedside: Schumacher's wife Corrina is in Grenoble. The couple married in 1995 and have two children

Serial winner: Schumacher wins 2004's British GP in typically exuberant style

Serial winner: Schumacher wins 2004's British GP in typically exuberant style

Champagne moment: Schumacher sprays the bubbly at Silverstone after pipping Kimi Raikkonen to victory

Champagne moment: Schumacher sprays the bubbly at Silverstone after pipping Kimi Raikkonen to victory

WORLD OF F1 REACTS

Former Benetton team-mate Martin Brundle ‏@MBrundleF1

Come on Michael, give us one of those race stints at pure qualifying pace to win through, like you used to. You can do it.

Former Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa

'I'm praying for God to protect you, brother!'
'I hope you have a quick recovery! God bless you, Michael!'

Jenson Button ‏@JensonButton

My thoughts are with Michael Schumacher at this tough time.. Michael more than anyone has the strength to pull through this.

Romain Grosjean ‏@RGrosjean

All our thoughts to Schumi and his family ! Hope you will recover soon. #legend #Schumi

Jean-Eric Vergne ‏@JeanEricVergne

Wishing all the best to Michael, hope everything will be good..!

Heikki Kovalainen ‏@H_Kovalainen

I heard Schumacher had a skiing accident, I hope it's not too serious and he makes a full recovery soon! #legend

Jules_Bianchi ‏@Jules_Bianchi

Best wishes to M.Schumacher.. I hope he is ok !!!! #strongman

Damon Hill

'We are all praying for Michael’s speedy and full recovery and out thoughts are with Corinna and the children.'

He is in an artificial coma and is undergoing some treatment which is limiting the damage to his brain. We are trying to release pressure in his head. We judge him to be in a very serious condition.’

Schumacher’s wife Corinna, son Mick, with whom he was skiing when he suffered the accident, and daughter Gina-Marie are by his bedside,

Professor Payen added: ‘We are in constant contact with his family that are by his bedside. At this moment we don't see he is going to need a second operation.’

According to reports, Ross Brawn, who worked with Schumacher at Benetton, Ferrari and Mercedes, is also on route to Grenoble.

Former Ferrari team boss and current FIA president Jean Todt  is also understood to have travelled to the hospital as has Professor Gerard Saillant, a brain and spine injury expert who is also president of safety body the FIA institute.

Professor Saillant oversaw  Schumacher's recovery after he broke his leg in the 1999 British Grand Prix.

Earlier a leading brain surgeon was seen arriving at the hospital in Grenoble, France, where he was being treated.

Eyewitnesses said Schumacher lost consciousness briefly after falling and hitting his head on a rock.

They saw blood oozing from his helmet in the eight minutes between the fall and medics arriving in a helicopter to pick him up.

The Schumacher family released a statement on Monday morning, saying: 'We would like to thank the medical team who we know do everything possible to help Michael.

'We like to also thank the people from all around the world who have expressed their sympathy and sent their best wishes for Michael's recovery.

'We would like to ask the media to respect the privacy of us and our friends and thank them for their support. Thank you.'

Dr Gary Hartstein, who was F1’s medical delegate from 2005 to 2012 and knows Schumacher well, said: ‘The possibilities run everywhere from sequel free survival right down to the worst thing we can imagine.

'It sounds very dramatic but in reality there are a couple of levels of induced coma. Since Michael’s brain needs rest, since it needs to be guaranteed a perfect physiological situation - and that means the patient needs to be calm and not agitated, plus the fact that the patient has a tube in his windpipe – he needs to be put to sleep. It’s basically like a prolonged anaesthetic.

Report: Jean Marc Grenier talks to media outside the hospital where Michael Schumacher is being treated

Report: Jean Marc Grenier talks to media outside the hospital where Michael Schumacher is being treated

Emergency: A Schumacher fan waits to hear news on the seven-time world champion's condition

Emergency: A Schumacher fan waits to hear news on the seven-time world champion's condition

Keen skier: Schumacher skiing in January 2005 at the Italian resort of Madonna di Campiglio

Keen skier: Schumacher skiing in January 2005 at the Italian resort of Madonna di Campiglio

Heir apparent: Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel, who has won four-stright world titles, share a moment at a kart club in Germany in 2001

Heir apparent: Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel, who has won four-stright world titles, share a moment at a kart club in Germany in 2001

The end of an era: Ferrari say farewell to Schumacher in 2006 before his first retirement from F1

The end of an era: Ferrari say farewell to Schumacher in 2006 before his first retirement from F1

When it is suggested to Hartstein that Schumacher is a risk taker but also someone whose fitness should aid his recovery, he said: ‘His fitness can only help. But look, Formula One is very adrenalized sport but Michael Schumacher is not what a would call a huge risk taker. He’s not someone who would just do anything.

'Michael has never got into a rally car. He always said he would never do that.
‘But you’re right, skiing, especially off-piste powder skiing, can be a bit dangerous. But Michael would not have taken any risk without first considering things.’

Olivier Desaulty, a spokesman for Meribel Alpina, a ski lift company, said: ‘Some skiers saw the accident and called us.

‘We immediately sent two ski patrols who were close by. They checked him and called a helicopter. Apparently he was briefly – a minute or so – unconscious. But he came around quickly and was then talking.

‘He said he had hit his head on a rock. He was wearing a helmet fortunately. The helicopter arrived very quickly and he was taken to hospital.’

Hospital: Schumacher is being treated at hospital in the south-eastern French city of Grenbole

Hospital: Schumacher is being treated at hospital in the south-eastern French city of Grenbole

Scene: Schumacher was skiing off-piste in the French Alps resort of Meribel

Scene: Schumacher was skiing off-piste in the French Alps resort of Meribel

Picture perfect: Schumacher poses with his wife Corinna in Madonna di Campiglio in 2004

Picture perfect: Schumacher poses with his wife Corinna in Madonna di Campiglio in 2004

Mean streets: Schumacher patrols the Monaco track ahead of the 2006 race

Mean streets: Schumacher patrols the Monaco track ahead of the 2006 race

Eastern promise: Schumacher and the Ferrari team hail victory in China

Eastern promise: Schumacher and the Ferrari team hail victory in China

THE DOCTORS' VERDICT

A leading neurosurgery specialist has described Michael Schumacher's condition as 'very dangerous', warning that his injuries may take several days to 'reach their peak'.

Christopher Chandler, of the London Neurosurgery Partnership, said the haematoma and bruising the seven-time Formula One world champion suffered could cause 'ferocious swelling'.

'An intra-cranial haematoma is a blood clot, which causes swelling and pressure on the brain,' he said.
'The scenario may be that he had a blood clot in his brain that required immediate removal, which would explain the surgery.

'By bilateral lesions, I suspect they mean contusions or bruising to the brain. That bruising of the brain, which you can see on a scan, causes ferocious swelling and that is really serious.

'(Cerebral) contusions are often the most significant injury. Once you remove the clot, the swelling carries on and bruising precipitates and propagates that swelling.

'If you have a brain injury with sufficient severity to cause a coma, that indicates a very serious situation. The longer a patient is in a coma, the less likely they are to make a full recovery.

'You can't say that they won't recover, and you can't say they won't be brain-damaged, but an injury such as bilateral bruising, which means on both sides of the brain, is very serious, and can be very dangerous.'

The consultant continued: 'Brain swelling takes a number of days to reach its peak. The brain has a rigid unyielding box around it - the skull - which allows no room for growth, making swelling very, very dangerous.

'And once that injury occurs it's a vicious circle where a little bit of swelling causes more pressure, which causes more swelling, more pressure, and it starts to accelerate and affect vital parts of the brain.

'When that happens, you are in really deep trouble, but this man received probably the best possible care that you could imagine in the circumstances.

'He had the brain injury and within minutes a team of medics were there and they airlifted him to hospital. Within half an hour he was assessed and being flown to the neurological unit in Grenoble.'

A spokesman for mountain rescue said: ‘He fell and hit his head at 11.07am. A helicopter was at the site at 11.15am.

‘A doctor specialising in emergencies was on board and treated him immediately. He was in shock. He was then airlifted to the hospital in Moûtiers.

‘He arrived at 11.53am and underwent tests but the accident was considered serious enough for him to be transferred to the larger hospital in Grenoble at 12.45pm. It was a relatively serious trauma to the head. It was quite serious, particularly because it is a head injury.’

Gerard Saillant, one of the leading neurologists in Paris and a friend of Schumacher, arrived at the hospital, the CHU de Grenoble, accompanied by police.

Professor Saillant is an expert in brain and spinal injuries and oversaw Schumacher’s medical care when he broke his leg in the 1999 British Grand Prix.

Schumacher’s wife, Corinna, and daughter Gina-Marie, 16, were at the hospital along with his son Mick.

Olivier Panis, a former French F1 driver who lives in Grenoble, tried to visit his friend on Sunday evening but was turned away by authorities.

The hospital was being heavily guarded by police.

A spokesman said: ‘A security cordon has been placed around certain areas of the hospital. Extra officers have been drafted in.’

Schumacher is a passionate skier, and has a run named after him in the Italian ski resort of Madonna di Campiglio.

Meribel is in the Tarentaise Valley, part of Les Trois Vallees, the largest ski area in the world, in the province of Savoie.

It is a popular destination for luxury hotels and world-class skiing conditions.

Christophe Gernigon-Lecomte, director of tourism in Meribel, said: ‘This accident is the proof that you can’t do whatever you want. It’s necessary to stay on the pistes, even when weather conditions are good.’

It was bright and sunny in Meribel on Sunday morning.

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.  

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