10.09am Despite the helmet he was wearing at the time of the accident
he arrived with lesions on the right-side of the brain so the crash, they
conclude, must have taken place at high-speed. He was in an agitated state
and was not responding to questions.
10.08am At the moment the doctors are trying to keep Schumacher’s body
temperature between 34 and 35 degrees and are working to reduce outside
stimuli and keep oxegen to the brain.
10.07am The doctors say that he “wouldn’t be here now” if he
had not been wearing a helmet. They also state that every year they deal
with similar accidents inmvolving skiiers in this resort.
10.07am There are no plans for a second operation and further updates
will be given as and when there are any developments.
10.06am It is possible that his physical condition as an athlete may
help him in the fight.
10.05am: Once again the doctors say he is an extremely serious
condition but it is far too early to say anything as far as prognosis is
concerned.
10.03am He has been placed in an artificial coma while they try to
reduce the pressure on his brain. Contrary to earlier reports Schumacher has
been operated only only once. Doctors say they are working on an
hour-to-hour basis.
10.02am The operation last night eliminated the haematoma but revealed “various
bilateral lesions”. At this point he was admitted to intensive care. He
remains in critical condition.
10am The press conference in Grenoble is starting right now: Schumacher
remains in critical condition. He was in a coma when he arrived at the
hospital last night
9.53am Sebastian Vettel, heir to Michael Schumacher’s F1 throne, has
commented on his compatriot: “I am shocked and hope that he will be
fine as soon as possible. I wish his family a lot of strength now.”
9.40am The forthcoming press statement, where more will be revealed
about Schumacher’s condition, will be given by three neurosurgeons and a
director from the hospital in Grenoble. As you may expect, a huge number of
media outlets will be present at the briefing.
9.30am As I mentioned earlier, French newspaper Le Dauphine Libere
is reporting that Schumacher had a second operation overnight at the
Grenoble University Hospital Centre. It is also reported that Professor
Gerard Saillant, who co-ordinated the driver’s medical care after he broke
his leg in the 1999 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, is present at the
hospital.
9.25am A host of stars of F1 past and present have been sending their
best wishes to Schumacher as we await the latest on his condition.
9.15am Until the hospital makes a further statement in about 45 minutes
we are dealing in speculation but various neurosurgeons have been giving
their expert opinion on the likely state of play regarding Schumacher’s
injuries.
Tony Belli, a consultant at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, told ITV’s
Daybreak programme: “From what we know, he is in a critical state and
in intensive care at the moment.
“It’s likely he will be on a breathing machine with complex monitoring
equipment around him. and he’s likely to be in a coma still.
“Initially, from what I gather, he was talking and trying to reassure
people but then he became unconscious quite rapidly.
“That would suggest that he probably had brain swelling and that’s
something that can happen quite often – people initially seem to be OK, and
then the brain begins to swell up and things get more serious.
“You’re dealing with a swollen brain, and often the brain bleeds quite
easily.
“The brain is very friable and it obviously has to be handled with a lot
of care, particularly when it’s swollen – it can actually sustain further
damage during the operation itself.
“The bleeding in itself could be quite serious because, unfortunately,
when the brain has been bruised, it can carry on bleeding for quite some
time during the surgery itself.”
Jean Marc Grenier, the deputy director of the hospital where Michael
Schumacher is being treated, speaks to the media last night.
9.00am Michael Schumacher is in a coma after a skiing accident in
France. The seven-times Formula One champion crashed while skiing off-piste
in the resort of Meribel on Sunday and was airlifted to hospital. University
Hospital of Grenoble spokesman Jean-Marc Grenier said the 44-year-old German
had suffered a serious head injury and remains in a critical condition.
“He suffered a severe head injury with coma on arrival, which required
immediate neurosurgical intervention,” he told Sky News in a statement.
He remains in a critical situation.”
Schumacher’s wife Corinna and his two children are reportedly at his bedside.
French media are claiming that Schumacher had a second operation overnight.
A statement is due at 10am to clarify the latest on his condition.