SCHUMACHER, FORMER F1 CHAMP, BATTLES FOR HIS LIFE

FRANKLIN ONWUBIKO - Michael Schumacher, the seven-time Formula 1
champion, is "fighting for his life" after a ski accident in the
French Alps, his doctors say. The driver remains in a critical
condition in hospital in Grenoble with head injuries suffered on
Sunday morning at the resort of Meribel. "We cannot tell you what the
outcome will be yet," the team treating him told a news conference
yesterday morning. His family are at his bedside. Schumacher underwent
surgery on arrival at the University Hospital in Grenoble.
He remains in a coma and the medical team treating him said that they
are working "hour by hour". "All we can do is wait," they added.
Prof Jean-Francois Payen told reporters that if Schumacher had not
been wearing a protective helmet "he wouldn't be here now". "We had to
operate urgently to release some pressure in his head," the
anaesthetist said.
Neurosurgeon Stephan Chabardes said that a post-operative scan had
shown "diffuse haemorrhagic legions" on both sides of Schumacher's
brain. The doctors refused to comment on his prognosis. The
44-year-old German was skiing off-piste with his teenage son when he
fell and hit his head on a rock. The accident happened lower down the
slope of the 'Dent de Burgin' peak .
Following the accident, Schumacher was evacuated to the hospital in
the nearby town of Moutiers. Prof Chabardes said the driver was in an
"agitated condition" on arrival in Moutiers and his neurological
condition "deteriorated rapidly".