F1 legend Michael Schumacher fighting for his life following horrific skiing accident

Retired Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher, 44, is fighting for his life after he fell and hit his head on a rock while skiing off piste with his 14-year-old son Mick in the resort of Meribel in the French Alps yesterday morning Sunday December 29th.

Doctors who treated the seven-time Formula One world champion said he would ‘have died’ had he not been wearing a crash helmet. But despite the helmet, Michael Schumacher suffered serious head injuries that has left him in a coma since the accident. The German driver required immediate brain surgery as he got to the hospital and is currently being kept in an induced coma, officials said.

Speaking at a press conference at the Grenoble Hospital where he's being treated, Doctors said they can't predict the future for Michael Schumacher.

"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. We judge him to be in a very serious situation. We cannot predict the future for Michael Schumacher." Continue...

Schumacher with his son

Chief anaesthesiologist professor Jean-Francois Payen added: 

‘We can say he is fighting for his life. We think his helmet did help, without a helmet he wouldn't be here now. We judge him to be in a very serious situation. 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.’

Doctors during the press conference

"On his arrival we examined him clinically and we realised he was in a serious condition, in a coma, with in fact cranial pressure. The brain scan showed a number of pieces of information, some intercranial haematoma (internal bleeding) but also some cerebral contusions (bruising of the brain tissue) and oedema (build-up of fluid). We operated urgently to try to eliminate the haematoma. After the operation we saw that we had been able to eliminate these haematoma but also sadly the appearance of various bilateral lesions. So therefore he was taken to intensive care to try to help.'

"I'd say this accident happened in the right place because he was taken into hospital immediately and operated on as soon as he arrived, this meant his state is critical and he is still in a coma and he will be kept in a coma.

"Everything that needed to be done has been done at the moment we can't really say when he will recover, we cannot answer this yet.

Schumacher's wife and two children are reportedly at his bedside.