Family 'not doing well' as Schumacher continues fight for life

Michael Schumacher's family have set up a bedside vigil as he continues to fight for his life in a French hospital.

The Formula One legend remains in "extremely serious" condition in an induced coma following surgery on a brain injury sustained in a ski crash in the French Alps.

His wife, Corinna, daughter Gina Maria and son Mick are all now with him in hospital but are in a state of shock over his condition.

"The family is not doing very well, obviously. They are shocked," his manager Sabine Kehm told reporters.

The team treating the seven-time world champion in hospital in Grenoble told a press conference on Monday that his situation remains critical and they could not predict what was going to happen.

Chief anaesthesiologist Professor Jean-Francois Payen said: "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."

The 44-year-old underwent surgery to reduce brain swelling and remove blood clots after hitting the right side of his head on a rock while skiing off-piste at Meribel in the French Alps on Sunday.

Schumacher suffered inter-cranial haematoma", which is bleeding between the brain and the skull which causes the brain to swell.

Doctors dismissed rumours he had had a second operation, and said there were no current plans for further surgery.

Professor Payen added that Schumacher’s life may have been saved by wearing a helmet, saying: "We think his helmet did help, without a helmet he wouldn't be here now."

Earlier on Monday a hospital spokesperson 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."

Schumacher remains under the care of Professor Gerard Saillaint a brain and spinal injury expert who is also president of the FIA Institute.

The pair became friends after the doctor treated Schumacher’s broken leg sustained in a crash at Silverstone in 1999.



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