Schumacher out of coma and moved closer to home

Michael Schumacher is no longer in a coma and has left the hospital in Grenoble, France, where he had been receiving treatment after suffering a head injury in a skiing accident last year.

The seven-times Formula One champion has been transferred to a hospital in Switzerland.

Schumacher was hurt in the incident in the French Alps in December, and was subsequently put into an artificially induced coma a few days later.

His management said: “Michael has left the CHU Grenoble to continue his long phase of rehabilitation. He is not in a coma any more.”

Schumacher’s family expressed their gratitude to all those who have played a part in the process over the past five and a half months.

“His family would like to explicitly thank all his treating doctors, nurses and therapists in Grenoble, as well as the first aiders at the place of the accident, who did an excellent job in those first months,” said a statement.

“The family also wishes to thank all the people who have sent Michael all the many good wishes. We are sure it helped him.

“For the future, we ask for understanding his further rehabilitation will take place away from the public eye.”

University Hospital of Lausanne in Switzerland confirmed that Schumacher had been transferred to its facility.

Schumacher’s family home is between Lausanne and Geneva. Patients in the “rehabilitation” phase are often moved closer to home.

It has been 170 days since Schumacher was injured following his fall off a piste in the French Alpine resort of Meribel.

Schumacher initially required surgery to remove a haematoma from his brain, but despite its success, the 45-year-old was forced to remain in a coma under sedation.