Doctors treating Michael Schumacher said today the Formula One legend has undergone a second operation following his life-threatening ski accident but warned he is “not out of danger”.
Surgeons said there had been a “slight improvement” in his condition and that they had “gained some time” by performing a successful second operation on the seven times world champion last night.
His family is at the hospital in the French Alpine city of Grenoble where the former racing driver remains in a coma after he fell and slammed his head on a rock while skiing off-piste on Sunday.
News of the accident stunned the world and racing stars joined German Chancellor Angela Merkel and legions of fans in expressing their hopes for his recovery.
The second operation yesterday was to remove a blood clot which was putting pressure on the brain, doctors said.
Surgeons only went ahead with the operation after consulting Schumacher’s family, who took the “difficult decision” to agree to a new procedure.
However, Jean-Francois Payen, head of the intensive care unit, told reporters at a press conference today that Schumacher was still in danger.
“We cannot speculate on the future,” he said.
Doctors claimed they were “surprised” by the improvement in Schumacher’s condition but he was still “critical” and remained “fragile”.
Doctors have said that Schumacher, who is due to turn 45 on January 3, has age and physical fitness on his side but stressed it was too early to say if he would pull through.
He has been put in a medically induced coma to spur recovery. The coma reduces the patient’s temperature to around 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) to reduce swelling.
By being unconscious, the brain is also switched off to sounds, light and other triggers that cause the organ to use up oxygen as it processes the stimuli.
A source close to the investigation into the off-piste accident at the posh ski resort of Meribel told AFP that Schumacher’s helmet, which medics say saved his life, was smashed “in two” by the impact.