Update: Michael Schumacher In A Coma Following Skiing Accident

Image via sensethecar.com

Former F1 world champion Michael Schumacher has suffered head injuries in a skiing accident. The German was skiing in France at the time.

Information has been hard to come by, with many media outlets reporting a 'serious' head injury. However, Sky News is now reporting that "he was wearing a helmet when he hit his head on a rock, and that he did not lose consciousness."

Following the accident, Schumacher was airlifted to Grenoble Hospital, where he is currently undergoing scans to assess the extent of his injuries.

Update 1

The French Mountain Gendarmerie has announced that Schumacher sustained a "relatively serious" head injury, but it is not life-threatening.

A French journalist has told Sky News that Schumacher was skiing off-track on his own when he fell. No information is coming from the hospital, so it is impossible to know the severity of the trauma.

Update 2

AFP is reporting that Michael Schumacher is in a critical condition following this morning's accident. He arrived at the hospital in a coma and was immediately operated on.

#BREAKING Schumacher in critical condition after ski accident: French hospital

— Agence France-Presse (@AFP) December 29, 2013

Although it was initially suggested his injuries were not too serious, latest reports in France suggest that he suffered a cerebral haemorrhage.

no official statement yet, french media say schumi has a cerebral hemorrhage. Hope the best! #getwellsoonschumi

— Bianca Garloff (@bgarloff) December 29, 2013

Grenoble Hospital, where Schumi is being treated, has now released a statement saying that the 44-year-old "was suffering a serious brain trauma with coma on his arrival, which required an immediate neurosurgical operation."

Update 3

A press conference has just concluded at Grenoble Hospital, giving us a clearer picture of the situation. To clarify, Schumacher was skiing off-piste when he fell and hit his head against a rock. Two patrollers tended to him promptly, and he was airlifted to a local hospital.

A hospital spokesman said:

"Michael Schumacher was the victim of very serious trauma. He was very agitated when he arrived and we decided he was in a critical situation and he quickly went into a coma. "Doctors decided to move him to the larger unit at Grenoble to undergo immediate surgery. "The neurosurgical treatment he received brought us quite a lot of information. We had to operate urgently to release some pressure in his head. Unfortunately, he has some lesions within his brain."

Chief anaesthesiologist professor Jean-Francois Payen added:

"I'd say this accident happened in the right place because he was taken into hospital immediately and operated on as soon as he arrived, this meant his state is critical and he is still in a coma and he will be kept in a coma. "Everything that needed to be done has been done; at the moment we can't really say when he will recover, we cannot answer this yet. "We can say he is fighting for his life. We judge him to be in a very serious situation. We cannot tell what the outcome will be yet. We are working hour-by-hour but it's too early to say what is going to happen and to have a prognosis."

My thoughts are with Michael Schumacher at this tough time.. Michael more than anyone has the strength to pull through this.

— Jenson Button (@JensonButton) December 29, 2013

Reports from Germany suggested the seven times world champion had undergone a second operation during the night, however the hospital confirmed he has only undergone one operation and they do not foresee the need for a second.

The 44-year-old was wearing a helmet when he fell, which doctors claim saved his life - "we think his helmet did help, without a helmet he wouldn't be here now," said Professor Payen.

Get well soon Michael! Hope to hear some positive news very soon! #strongman

— Fernando Alonso (@alo_oficial) December 30, 2013

Tributes have been pouring in from friends, fans and fellow racers. The racing community is clearly devastated that one of their icons is so seriously injured. Everyone is hoping he'll pull through.

For a little more detail on the type of injury sustained by Schumacher, check out splyntr's contribution in the comments below.

We'll update you with more information as we get it.