Michael Schumacher: “the state of health is stable”
Michael Schumacher's health condition has shown slight improvement following a second operation that was not initially planned. The university hospital communicated very cautiously as the situation remains critical. On January 1st, Sabine Kehm, Michael Schumacher's agent, gave a brief update on the "stable" health condition of the champion.
Sunday, December 29, 2013, Michael Schumacher was involved in a skiing accident, during which the seven-time world champion hit a rock. After being evacuated conscious to the Moutiers hospital, the German was then transferred to the CHU Grenoble due to the deterioration of his condition. He arrived at the Isère hospital with a severe head trauma and in a coma, according to the statement read by the on-duty director of the CHU. Michael Schumacher underwent a neurosurgical operation aimed, in principle, at reducing a cerebral hemorrhage resulting from his fall.
Jacqueline Hubert, the director general of the Grenoble University Hospital, begins the press conference. Late in the evening, a new scan and then a new operation were performed. Professor Emmanuel Gay led this second operation in three days. We proceeded with the evacuation of a hematoma from the left side and then placed a device to reduce intracranial pressure.
The operation went well: « The hematoma has decreased very correctly, according to this morning’s scan. But other brain lesions need to be monitored. » Professor Payen takes the microphone: « the situation is better controlled than yesterday. The next hours are still crucial from a therapeutic point of view. » The doctors communicate with a lot of caution, it is difficult to project into a future, even a close one, from a medical standpoint. « We refuse to communicate information about the future course because it is premature », informs Professor Payen. In a bid for precision, Gérard Saillant intervenes: « Everything will be said transparently, but it would be foolish to speculate. The situation can change very quickly, tonight or tomorrow. »
You must not think that Michael Schumacher is out of danger. There is still blood, bruising everywhere. The situation must be assessed hour by hour, day by day, explained Professor Gay. Jacqueline Hubert specifies that there will not be daily press briefings, but in case of communication, as was the case with last night’s operation.
Update at 12:30 PM: Sabine Kehm, Michael Schumacher’s agent, provided a version of the accident at the end of the press conference: « The accident did not happen at high speed as it was written. Michael wanted to help a friend who had just fallen in this rocky area. [He] moved to help him. Unfortunately, he stepped on a rock, lost his balance, and fell headfirst, on the right side, onto another rock. » As a reminder, an investigation by the Albertville prosecutor’s office is underway regarding the circumstances of the accident.
Sabine Kehm also indicated that a journalist attempted to enter Michael Schumacher’s room disguised as a priest.
Updated on January 1st at 10:55 am: During an impromptu press briefing in front of the Grenoble University Hospital, Sabine Kehm, Michael Schumacher’s agent, stated that the champion’s health condition is stable. “We don’t have much to say as nothing has changed since yesterday,” she announced. There will be no press briefing from the medical team at the Grenoble University Hospital for the time being.
More information to follow…
