Support floods in for ‘critical’ Schumacher

11:30 31/12/2013
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Private moment: Vettel credits Schumacher as the inspiration behind his career

    Reigning Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel has revealed his shock at the injury to Michael Schumacher which has left his fellow German in a critical condition in hospital.

    Schumacher, a seven-time F1 champion who retired from the sport for a second time last year, is in an induced coma in intensive care at the University Hospital of Grenoble after hitting his head on a rock in a skiing accident in the resort of Meribel in the French Alps on Sunday.

    Vettel has been dubbed ‘Baby Schumi’ after following the 44-year-old in becoming a multiple world champion.

    “I am shocked and I hope that he gets better as quickly as possible,” the four-time champion Vettel said. “I wish his family much strength.”

    Doctors at the hospital in the southeastern city of Grenoble said yesterday their famous patient was fighting for his life. “He is in critical condition, his condition can be described as life threatening,” Jean-Francois Payen, head of the intensive care unit, said.

    Doctors said it was too early to say whether Schumacher, who is due to turn 45 on January 3, would pull through. “It usually takes 48 hours, or even longer, to be able to formulate an opinion on injuries of this severity,” said neurologist Jean-Luc Truelle.

    Stephan Chabardes, the professor who operated on Schumacher, said he arrived in hospital Sunday in an agitated state – his arms and legs jerking uncontrollably – and was not able to answer questions.

    His condition “rapidly deteriorated” and he fell into a coma. Payen said Schumacher had been operated on immediately and had suffered “serious and diffuse brain lesions”.

    Doctors do not expect to perform a second operation. He added that Schumacher would not be alive if he had not been wearing a helmet. “Given the violence of the impact, his helmet partially protected him. If someone had this type of accident without a helmet, they would definitely not be here,” Payen said.

    Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, said she shared the shock of millions of Germans.

    Her spokesman Steffen Seibert said: “We hope, along with Michael Schumacher and his family, that his injuries will heal and he will recover. “We wish his wife, his children and the rest of his family strength and mutual support.”

    Recommended