Schumacher moves hospital after coming out of coma

The former racing driver has emerged from his coma – days after the hospital said he was “out of danger” and had been moved out of its intensive care unit. Now he has been moved out of the Grenoble hospital into a more specialist rehabilitation unit.

In a brief statement, spokeswoman Sabina Kehm said the 45 year old “would continue his long phase of rehabilitation. He is not in a coma any more”. She said his family wanted to thank all the medical staff who have been caring for him, as well as his many supporters.

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

Schumacher has been in the hospital since later December when he suffered serious head injuries in a ski-ing accident on the French Alps, and was placed into a medically-induced coma.

However, his transfer to a specialist unit may not mean his chances of making a significant recovery are any better.

According to reports in the German press, it could just mean doctors are unable to improve his condition in the emergency unit and may just be trying to make him as comfortable as possible.

The former Formula One doctor Gary Hartstein warned the magazine Bunte: “I do not thjink anyone will ever hear his voice ever again”.

For now the family have called for privacy. “For the future, we ask for understanding that his further rehabilitation will take place away from the public eye.”