Michael Schumacher, former F1
champion, critical after ski fall 30 December 2013 Last updated at 09:25 Michael Schumacher, the seven-time Formula 1
champion, is in a critical condition after a skiing
accident, says the French hospital treating him. The 44-year-old German suffered serious brain
trauma, was in a coma on arrival and underwent
immediate surgery. He was skiing off-piste with his son in the French
Alps on Sunday morning when the accident
occurred. The hospital in Grenoble will issue further
information on his condition at 11:00 local time
(10:00 GMT). Schumacher was wearing a helmet when he fell and
hit his head against a rock, his manager Sabine
Kehm said. Reports in French and German media say that the
F1 legend underwent a second operation during the
night. The German racing champion is a keen skier Germany's Bild tabloid reported that his condition
had worsened and surgeons had drilled holes in his
skull to reduce the pressure on his brain. 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. The accident took place in the French ski resort of
Meribel. The resort's director, Christophe Gernignon-
Lecomte, said the former champion 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. 'Critical situation' "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 Grenoble hospital said in a
statement. "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. 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. Drivers shocked 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
driver broke his leg in the 1999 British GP. The German, who turns 45 on 3 January, retired
from F1 for a second time in 2012. Schumacher won seven world championships and
secured 91 race victories during his 19-year career. 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. After Schumacher retired in 2006, he 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 retired race driver was reportedly conscious
when he was airlifted to hospital F1 drivers from around the globe have expressed
their shock at the news of the accident. British ex-racer Martin Brundle, who was
Schumacher's F1 teammate at Benetton, tweeted: "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." Brazilian driver Felipe Massa posted a picture of himself and Schumacher on Instagram, with the
Portuguese message: "I'm praying for God to
protect you, brother!"