Michael Schumacher in critical condition after a skiing accident
GRENOBLE, France - Doctors treating Michael Schumacher refused Monday to predict a result for the seven-time Formula One champion, saying they took his head wound critical hour by hour following a skiing accident.
Schumacher remained in critical condition after undergoing brain surgery following a skiing accident in the French Alps a day earlier, the doctors said.
The University Hospital of Grenoble said the retired racing driver arrived at the clinic in a coma and underwent immediate surgery for a serious head injury.
At a news conference held Monday morning, chief anesthesiologist Jean-François Payen said Schumacher was fighting for his life.
Michael Schumacher was in critical condition Monday after undergoing brain surgery following a skiing accident in the French Alps AP Photo Luca Bruno.
We judge to be in a very serious situation, Payen said, according to a BBC translation We can not say what the outcome will be but we're working hour by hour, but it is too early to say what will happen and have a prognosis.
We believe that his helmet helped; without headphones, it wouldn t be here now.
Payen, who is also responsible for the intensive care unit of the Grenoble University Hospital, said doctors could not predict the future of Schumacher.
He is in critical condition in terms of cerebral resuscitation, Payen said, according to The Associated Press We work hour by hour.
Schumacher said Payen was kept in an induced coma and a lowered temperature while doctors work to provide oxygen to the brain and reduce external stimuli Pressed, he said they could not go beyond its current state.
Schumacher fell in Méribel earlier Sunday and hit his head on a rock, a statement of the son-station 14 years Schumacher was skiing with his father in the accident, the station said.
Resort managers have said he was conscious when rescuers first responded to the scene so agitated and in a state of shock.
But Payen said Monday that Schumacher after the fall was not in a normal state of consciousness, he did not respond to questions and its members seemed to move involuntarily.
He was airlifted to a local hospital and later taken to Grenoble Doctors said that call was typical and did not affect its status.
His wife and other family members were at his bedside.
The family is not very good, of course, they are shocked, said his manager Sabine Kehm, who added that the family still appreciates the outpouring of support.
The French prosecutor in Albertville opened an investigation into the accident, according to mountain gendarmerie in Bourg-Saint-Maurice, who will participate in the probe The purpose is to determine the circumstances of the accident and who was responsible.
Earlier in the day Meribel resort said Schumacher had been taken to Grenoble for testing and authorities said his life was not in danger.
But the situation began to appear more serious when the station said orthopedic surgeon and trauma Gerard Saillant had traveled from Paris to the hospital of Grenoble German news agency dpa said he was Saillant who operated on Schumacher when he broke his leg in a crash at Silverstone race course in 1999.
But Saillant said he was there in his capacity as friend, not a doctor, however, he said to reporters that Schumacher age - he turns 45 on January 3 - and ability should work in his favor.
The medical team of Grenoble was very cautious about the prognosis Schumacher They work to relieve pressure on his brain and reduced his body temperature between 93 2 to 95 degrees in the coma.
The neurology team in Grenoble is recognized as among the best in France and in the hospital, in a city that is the gateway to the French Alps, sees many skiing accidents each year.
The area where Schumacher was skiing is part of a network of trails that cut across a vast and, in some areas, snowfield steep Although difficult, the snow field is not extreme skiing slopes are wide and perfectly maintained, and ungroomed area between - where the resort said Schumacher was found - is free of trees.
As news spread of the accident, Ferrari, Schumacher ran for, expressed concern in a statement.
Everyone at Ferrari was in a state of anxiety since heard about the accident Michael Schumacher, he said, adding that the company president Luca di Montezemolo and head of the race team, Stefano Domenicali had contact with the family.
Many Formula One drivers have used social media to wish Schumacher a quick recovery.
His former teammate Felipe Massa Ferrari who recovered fatal injuries at the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2009, wrote on Instagram I pray for you my brother, I wish you a speedy recovery Bless you Michael.
Support also came from high German sports personalities, from the NBA to soccer.
Dallas Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki said his thoughts were with Schumacher, while Lukas Podolski who plays for Arsenal in the English Premier League, tweeted.
The bad news from Switzerland please get well soon, Michael Schumacher All the best for you, my friend getwellsoon Michael Schumacher.
Boris Becker, the retired tennis champion who now works with Novak Djokovic posted.
Let us all pray for michael realschumacher for a full and speedy recovery.
A Tweet previously used in this story came from an unverified Twitter account and Sebastian Vettel has been removed Vettel is F1 champion four times which is close to Schumacher.
In addition to the accident at Silverstone, Schumacher was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in February 2009 in Spain when he was injured in the neck and spine.
These injuries have prevented him making a comeback this year to replace the injured Massa, but he returned to full-time sports in 2010.
Schumacher is the most successful driver in Formula One history with seven championships and 91 victories drivers.
After the initial success with the Benetton team, he moved to Ferrari and helped transform the Italian team a dominant force in the sport after his retirement in 2006, he made a comeback in 2010 and ran for three years with Mercedes.
Information The Associated Press was used in this report.
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