Michael Schumacher out of coma, leaves hospital

Michael Schumacher, who suffered serious head injuries in a skiing accident last December, is no longer in a coma.

Furthermore, the seven-time world champion has now left Grenoble’s University Hospital in France to ‘continue his long phase of rehabilitation’.

“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,” read a statement.

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

Schumacher, 45, was placed in an induced coma after falling and hitting his head on a rock during a family ski trip. The German’s medical team began reducing his sedation at the end of January.

“For the future we ask for understanding that his further rehabilitation will take place away from the public eye,” concluded Monday’s statement.

No further details regarding where Schumacher has been transferred to have been made public and no press conference with his family is expected.

Schumacher had been in a medically induced coma in Grenoble, France, since being badly injured in a ski accident on December 29 in the French resort of Meribel with his son and friends. The 45-year-old struck his head on a rock while skiing off-piste.

The 45-year-old Schumacher underwent two operations in the days after the accident to remove life-threatening blood clots before being placed into a coma.