Schumacher fans gather for silent birthday vigil

Fans of Michael Schumacher gathered for a silent vigil for the Formula One legend’s 45th birthday as he lay in a coma in a French hospital after a skiing accident last Sunday.

Ferrari, which bused in scores of fans from Italy and France to the hospital in the Alpine city of Grenoble, put a message on its website, saying “Forza Michael”, or “Go Michael” in Italian.

“He is tackling the most important fight of his life and, therefore, we want to send him very special wishes,” said Schumacher’s old team, as similar messages poured in from around the world.