Michael Schumacher 'fighting for life' after ski accident


Doctors told journalists that they could not predict what would happen

Michael Schumacher, the seven-time Formula 1 champion, is "fighting for his life" after a ski accident in the French Alps, his doctors say.

The driver remains in a critical condition in hospital in Grenoble with head injuries suffered on Sunday morning at the resort of Meribel.

"We cannot tell you what the outcome will be yet," the team treating him told a news conference on Monday morning.

His family are at his bedside.

Schumacher underwent surgery on arrival at the University Hospital in Grenoble.

He remains in a coma and the medical team treating him said that they are working "hour by hour".

"All we can do is wait," they added.

Photo dated January 14, 2005 shows German former Formula One driver Michael Schumacher skiing in the northern Italian resort of Madonna di Campiglio The German racing champion is a keen skier

Helmet

Prof Jean-Francois Payen told reporters that if Schumacher had not been wearing a protective helmet "he wouldn't be here now".

"We had to operate urgently to release some pressure in his head," the anaesthetist said.

Neurosurgeon Stephan Chabardes said that a post-operative scan had shown "diffuse haemorrhagic legions" on both sides of Schumacher's brain.

The doctors refused to comment on his prognosis.

The 44-year-old German was skiing off-piste with his teenage son when he fell and hit his head on a rock.

A picture shows the "Dent de Burgin" peak in the French ski resort of Meribel, on under which, lower in the mountain slope, Michael Schumacher reportedly had a skiing accident (30 Dec 2013) The accident happened lower down the slope of the 'Dent de Burgin' peak

Following the accident, Schumacher was evacuated to the hospital in the nearby town of Moutiers.

Prof Chabardes said the driver was in an "agitated condition" on arrival in Moutiers and his neurological condition "deteriorated rapidly".

He was taken from Moutiers to the larger facility in Grenoble.

Analysis



After an operation to reduce swelling of the brain, we would place a monitor inside the brain to measure the pressure.

The induced coma Michael Schumacher is in is to try to stabilise the pressure within the brain, to try to prevent secondary brain damage from occurring.

It's likely he will remain in an induced coma for several days, and really the outcome is very, very unclear at this stage.

The agitation suggests that his conscious level when he first came in was deteriorating.

Schumacher is being kept in a coma at a low temperature to facilitate his recovery, Prof Payen said.

The medical team said that the driver's relative youth and the fact that he was operated on without delay count in his favour.

'Good visibility'

Tim Wall, who produces a snow conditions report for La Tania, a neighbouring village to Meribel, told the BBC that skies were clear and visibility good in the area on Sunday.

"There was about 20cm of snow late on Saturday and overnight.

"On Sunday morning the snow was very light and the skies were clear - perfect skiing conditions."

But despite this and a similar snowfall earlier in the week, off-piste snow cover was patchy, he said.

"There have been quite high winds, so there are areas with good snow cover, but where it's exposed there's not much snow.

"There are lots of tree roots sticking out, and rocks. We kept to [more sheltered areas in] the trees and were very careful."

'Fighting spirit'

Michael Schumacher


Michael Schumacher

  • Born: 3 January 1969
  • First GP win: Belgium 1992
  • Last GP win: China 2006
  • Races started: 303
  • Wins: 91 (155 podium finishes)
  • Championships: 7 (1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004)

Schumacher, who turns 45 on 3 January, retired from F1 for a second time in 2012.

He won seven world championships and secured 91 race victories during his 19-year career.

Schumacher 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.

He retired in 2006, and was seriously hurt in a motorcycling accident in Spain three years later, during which he suffered neck and spine injuries.

But Schumacher managed to recover and made a comeback in F1 with Mercedes in 2010.

After three seasons which yielded just one podium finish, he quit the sport at the end of last year.

The Mercedes F1 team said their thoughts and prayers were with Schumacher and his family.

The team tweeted that the driver had "amazing fighting spirit".

British retired F1 driver David Coulthard said that "if anyone knows how to muster inner strength and determination then there's no doubt in my mind Michael Schumacher is the man to do it".

He told BBC News that Schumacher was "risk averse" as an F1 competitor, like other drivers - contrary to the popular image of the sport.

"It's all about finding the limits of your car, and staying within the limits," he said.

A spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she and her government were, like millions of Germans, "extremely shocked to hear of Michael Schumacher's serious skiing accident".

"We hope, with Michael Schumacher and with his family, that he can overcome and recover from his injuries," the spokesman said.

PETRA ASKED THAT I START THIS THREAD FOR HER AND BELOW IS HER COMMENT SHE WISHED PLACED ON IT....

"I would write so with pleasure in this forum a comment! It goes, besides, know him certainly also many in this forum around Michael. Michael Schumacher of the former formula 1 Driver. Yesterday he had a heavy ski accident and is in a coma. I would be glad in such a way if send all Michel Bolton Fans a small thought in the direction of Michael Schumacher. Maybe he becomes healthy then again. Oh my god, he is only 45 years old!!!!"
Let us all send our thoughts and prayers to Michael and his family and hope that he does recover !!!
 
Sylvia.  Your wee Scottish friend    and     Petra Christine our very dear German friend.

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Thank you Sylvia for your contribution! We will not give up hope! Right?

Petra Christine (Germany)

This is something no one wants to read! Sorry Melody! But I like your contribution not!

Petra Christine (Germany)

Latest report published in UK on Michael's condition and just have to hope Dr. Aziz is proved wrong !!!

Schumacher 'unlikely' to make full recovery, brain expert warns

The 45-year-old has been in a medically induced coma for two months.
2 hours ago By MSN UK News

Michael Schumacher is "unlikely" to make a full recovery after suffering serious head injuries from his skiing accident, a leading neurologist has warned.

Dr Tipu Aziz, professor of neurosurgery at Oxford University, said it "does not bode well" that the Formula One legend remains in a medically induced coma after two months.

"The fact that he hasn't woken up implies that the injury has been extremely severe and that a full recovery is improbable," Dr Aziz told reporters.

"If you don't start getting any positive signs, that becomes very worrisome."

Doctors at the University of Grenoble Hospital have been slowly reducing the dosage of drugs used to sedate Schumacher to bring him out of his coma while protecting his brain's healing process.

Dr Aziz, who is not connected with Schumacher's care, said the 45-year-old's sedation may have hampered attempts to assess the damage from the accident and thus forecast his chances of a recovery.

"Doctors are probably doing regular brain scans to look for signs of activity - though such signs may be difficult to detect if he is still being sedated," he said.

Details of Schumacher's condition have been closely guarded by his family, who have let little information become public in order to protect his privacy.

Earlier this week Schumacher's management team broke a news blackout to deny reports that doctors had abandoned attempts to wake him up.

It is believed medics will be looking for eye movements from the racing driver as they enter a third week of trying to bring him out of his coma.

The seven-time F1 world champion hit his head on a rock while skiing off-piste in the French Alps in late December.

Sylvia.  Your wee Scottish friend.

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Many thanks for the article Sylvia! I hope to myself it is a false alarm that acts. And I hope his management this announcement again rectifies. But the positive thinking after 2 months heavier and heavier. But we do not give up hope!!!

Petra Christine (Germany)

It's time to face reality. He will never recover. You can hope until the cows come home. Sooner or later they are going to have to pull the plug and let him die. I know it sounds heartless on my part but i'm saying this out of mercy. It would be better for someone to die then be comatose like that especially if there is no brain activity. His wife needs to accept that he may be brain dead. I'm not trying to be pessimistic or negative just accepting reality.

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/uk_national_sport/11127348.Schumache...

A LITTLE DAWN OF HOPE?!

Schumacher 'showing positive signs'

Michael Schumacher is showing "moments of consciousness" as he continues his long struggle for survival.

The seven-times Formula One world champion is now approaching 100 days in a coma at the University of Grenoble hospital since sustaining severe head injuries in a skiing accident at the end of December.

The latest update from Schumacher's manager Sabine Kehm - and the first for just over three weeks - again offers hope the 45-year-old will somehow make a miracle recovery.

"Michael is making progress. He shows moments of consciousness and awakening," said Kehm.

"We are on his side during his long and difficult fight, together with the team at the hospital in Grenoble, and we remain confident."

Not for the first time Kehm has thanked Schumacher's fans, and all the well-wishers around the world, for their continuous support.

Naturally, as time has progressed and Schumacher has failed to emerge from his coma, there has been growing speculation as to whether he will survive, and if he does, the nature of his condition.

Kehm, however, is unwilling to go into specifics with regard to Schumacher's situation and his care, adding: "We would like to thank you all for the continuous sympathies.

"At the same time we again ask for your understanding that we do not intend to disclose details.

"This is necessary to protect the privacy of Michael and his family, and to enable the medical team to work in full calmness."

Recent speculation has centred around the fact Schumacher's wife Corinna was considering moving her husband to their home for him to continue his treatment by building a specialised medical suite.

However, it is understood that is not part of the family's plans as they believe he is receiving the best treatment possible at the Hospital.

Schumacher was placed in an induced coma after undergoing two separate operations to remove blood clots from his brain following his accident on December 29.

Petra Christine (Germany)

Thanks for the news Petra and I heard a little bit last night and this morning on our news programmes and sounding good, as far as I am concerned, and definitely still worth the fight to try and get him back....here is hoping !!! :)

Sylvia.  Your wee Scottish friend.

27

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/17/sports/autoracing/michael-schumac...

News of Michael Schumacher! It is important not to give up hope!

Petra (Germany)

Thanks Petra and saw an article about him coming out of a coma and being moved and it was reported on our national news tonight so here is hoping he continues to improve and if not fully that he, at least, has a good quality of life.   Doesn't sound as though anything further will be said until much later on on his road to recovery so just have to keep hoping for him.   Danke Petra !!! :)

Sylvia.  Your wee Scottish friend.

27

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