Doctors say Michael Schumacher's condition is 'extremely serious' and he remains critical in a coma after a skiing accident.
Former motor racing world champion Michael Schumacher
is in a coma following a skiing accident in France - and doctors say
they "cannot predict his future".
The 44-year-old German is fighting for his life at a hospital in Grenoble and surgeons are working 'hour by hour' to save him.At a press conference this morning, in Grenoble, doctors said he had suffered many lesions to his brain and his prognosis was unclear.
Surgeons operated to remove a blood clot in his brain and are trying to reduce dangerous swelling, meaning his condition could go either way.
"He's in a critical situation - this is considered to be extremely serious," Chief Anaesthetist Jean-Francois Payen told journalists.
The doctor said that Schumacher's family were at his bedside and friends had flown in to the hospital lend their support.
"We are working day and night at his bedside," Dr Payen said. "It is too early to say anything as far as prognosis is concerned," he added.
Dr Payen continued: "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."
Neurosurgeon Stephan Chabardes said an emergency brain scan had revealed internal bleeding, and injuries including contusions and lesions.
"I am very worried just like his family, we are very worried about his condition. The doctors won't tell you more because they can't tell you more, they are working hour by hour," Dr Chabardes said.
Sky Sports News journalist Gernot Bauer said four world-renowned doctors were now looking after the driver.
Schumacher was wearing a helmet when he hit his head on a rock while skiing in the French Alps resort of Meribal with his 14-year-old son.
Without the helmet Schumacher would almost certainly have died, doctors at the press conference said.
"Someone who had suffered this accident without a helmet would not have made it this far," Dr Payen said
Schumacher was conscious when first responders arrived on the scene, although agitated and in shock, according to a resort spokesman.
He was first airlifted to a local hospital and then later brought to Grenoble for more intensive treatment, when his condition deteriorated.
The French Mountain Gendarmerie had earlier said Schumacher's life was not in danger.
A leading neurosurgery specialist has described Michael Schumacher's condition as "very dangerous", warning that his injuries may take several days to "reach their peak".
Christopher Chandler, of the London Neurosurgery Partnership, said the haematoma and bruising the F1 champion suffered could cause "ferocious swelling".
"An intra-cranial haematoma is a blood clot, which causes swelling and pressure on the brain," he said. "The scenario may be that he had a blood clot in his brain that required immediate removal, which would explain the surgery."
Former Ferrari team boss Jean Todt and Professor Gerard Saillant, a brain and spine injury expert, are at the Grenoble University Hospital Centre.
Professor Saillant co-ordinated Schumacher's medical care after the driver broke his leg in the 1999 British Grand Prix.
Schumacher, a seven-time world champion, first retired from Formula One in 2006.
He has been hurt seriously once before, in a motorcycling accident in February 2009 when he suffered neck and spine injuries.
Schumacher recovered sufficiently from those injuries to make a comeback to Formula One in 2010.
