Schumacher: Official update 30 | 01 | 2014
DOCTORS HAVE STARTED the long process of bringing Michael Schumacher out of the medically- induced coma he has been in since his ski accident a month ago.
An official statement released today by Schumacher’s manager Sabine Kehm on behalf of the Schumacher family came in response to mounting media speculation in the past 24 hours that there had been a change in the seven-time Formula 1 world champion’s condition.
“The family of Michael Schumacher is again requesting to respect its privacy, and to not disturb the doctors treating Michael in their work,” the official statement read.
“At the same time, the family wishes to express sincere appreciation for the worldwide sympathy.
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“Michael's sedation is being reduced in order to allow the start of the waking-up process which may take a long time.
“For the protection of the family, it was originally agreed by the interested parties to communicate this information only once this process was consolidated.”
There is no indication how long the process to wake Schumacher from his coma will take.
The former Jordan, Benetton, Ferrari and Mercedes driver has been in a coma at the Grenoble Hospital in the south of France since December 29 when he suffered a serious head injury on a family skiing holding in the Alps.
The previous official update on his condition had come as far back as the first week of January, when he was described as stable, an improvement on the critical but stable condition he had been in the immediate aftermath of the crash.
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Jim McGill