FORMULA ONE great Michael Schumacher is showing “moments of consciousness” after months in a coma and is “making progress”, says his agent.Schumacher suffered a ski accident 14 weeks ago and is in the waking-up process after being placed in a medically-induced coma, with Sabine Kehm offering an encouraging update regarding his condition.
“Michael is making progress on his way,” said Kehm in a statement. “He shows moments of consciousness and awakening. We are on his side during his long and difficult fight, together with the team of the hospital in Grenoble, and we keep remaining confident.
“We would like to thank you all for the continuous sympathies. At the same time we again ask for understanding that we do not intend to disclose details. This is necessary to protect the privacy of Michael and his family, and to enable the medical team to work in full calmness.”
Schumacher remains unable to breathe on his own and is on a ventilator. Doctors began the process of gradually awakening him more than nine weeks ago.
He is receiving round-the-clock care in intensive care in Grenoble University Hospital and his wife Corinna, 45 – with whom he has two children Gina Marie, 16, and Mick, 14 – has remained at his bedside.
Meanwhile, a family friend has insisted that the legendary driver will be moved to a rehabilitation facility, but not one at his home, as has been previously claimed.
The friend rubbished reports that his wife Corinna is spending £10 million to build a medically-equipped suite at their home in Switzerland because doctors have warned her that his chances of a full recovery are negligible.
“Michael will be moved to a rehabilitation clinic at some stage, however, not at this stage,” the friend said. “We are confident Michael will wake up. Therefore why would we need to build facilities for a vegetative man at his home? This would imply that his case is hopeless.”
The seven-time world champion remains in intensive care in Grenoble Hospital in France, but his family remains “confident” he will wake from his coma, according to Sabine Kehm, Schumacher’s manager and agent.
She added that there was no truth in reports that Schumacher’s family were building the medical facility at their home, or indeed his father’s new apartment.
“Rumours saying that Corinna is rebuilding her house in order to take the allegedly hopeless case Michael back home are absolutely untenable,” Kehm said. “This counts too for Rolf’s house which is being built at the Schumacher’s site.”