Michael Schumacher has reportedly been moved from an intensive care unit to a rehabilitation ward in Grenoble hospital where the driver is being treated for severe brain injuries.
The seven-time F1 world champion struck a rock with his head whilst skiing at the French resort of Meribel in late December of last year.
He was placed into a medically induced coma in early January to aid his recovery, and he was making "small, encouraging signs" around two months ago. Doctors have so far struggled to bring him out of the coma, and German magazine Bunte said that the driver was "out of danger" but his chances of making a full recovery have diminished.
Sabine Kehm, Schumacher's manager, has made no comment on Bunte's report. Last month Kehm denied reports that the German had been moved to a rehab unit, insisting that there had been no change in his condition.
Dr Gary Hartstein, former F1 doctor, said "I'm quite afraid, and virtually certain, we will never have any good news about Michael."
Flavio Briatore, former Benetton team boss, speaking to Italy's Radio 24, admitted he shared Dr Hartstein's fears.
"There is no news because the family is very closed," he said. "They are not communicating. But surely no news in this case is not good news."
#KeepFightingMichael
UPDATE (16/06/2014)
Michael Schumacher has been discharged from Grenoble hospital, and his family has confirmed that the driver is no longer in a coma.
They praised the staff in Grenoble hospital, where Schumacher has been since his accident in December. His treatment will continue at Lausanne university hospital in Switzerland, out of the public eye.
"Michael has left the CHU Grenoble to continue his long phase of rehabilitation. He is not in a coma anymore," Schumacher's manager, Sabine Kehm, said in a statement on behalf of his family on Monday.
"For the future we ask for understanding that his further rehabilitation will take place away from the public eye," she said, without giving further details.
It is still not clear what the current condition of Schumacher is. Many medical professionals have warned that despite the fact that Schumacher is no longer comatose, he may still never return to his pre-accident condition as a result of the ordeal.
Image: Mercedes AMG Petronas
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