Schumacher brain scan showing “slight improvement” after ski accident

The condition of Formula One champion Michael Schumacher has improved after doctors carried out a second operation following a skiing accident in the French Alps yesterday.

The 44-year-old underwent a brain scan which shows “slight improvement”, although doctors have said that Schumacher remains in danger.

Mr Schumacher was air-lifted to a Grenoble hospital – where he arrived already in a coma – after falling and hitting his head on a rock whilst skiing off piste with his teenage son.

Doctors have said that he would undoubtedly have died had he not been wearing a helmet, which is said to have cracked instantly upon impact.

“It looks like probably that initiating a corner, he was hitting a stone which he had not seen and was catapulted down on a rock,” said Shumacher’s manager, Sabine Kehm. “That does not mean that Michael was travelling at high speed. He was not too fast,” she added.

The decision to carry out a second operation was taken when a scan on Monday night showed initial improvement, and the family consented to the two hour operation which took place at 10pm, and lasted for two hours.

Schumacher is currently in a medically-induced coma, from which medical professionals say they are unsure when he will wake.

“He still remains in a coma and for the moment there is absolutely no question of evaluating him form a neurological point of view and seeing how he will be when he wakes up,” said doctors, who went on to say that there were more surgeries and treatments that will need to take place.

Support for the seven-time world Formula One champion has been flooding in. Current world champion, Sebastian Vettel, said: “I am shocked and hope that he gets better as quickly as possible. I wish his family much strength.”

British driver Jenson Button added: “My thoughts are with Michael Schumacher at this tough time. Michael more than anyone has the strength to pull through this.”

Abbie Cavendish