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Michael Schumacher Skiing Accident: F1 Legend Could Be In A Coma 'For The Rest Of His Life'

Schumacher Could Be In A Coma 'For The Rest Of His Life'
The Huffington Post UK
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Schumacher has been in a coma since 29 January
PATRICK HERTZOG via Getty Images

Michael Schumacher could be in a coma for the rest of his life, according to medical experts.

German news magazine Focus reported "Schumacher could be in a coma forever" after consulting experts on his condition.

The Formula 1 legend remains in a critical, yet stable condition at a Grenoble hospital after he hit his head on a rock while skiing in the French alps on 29 December.

Schumacher, who turned 45 on earlier this month, has also had an operation to remove a small part of his skull in a bid to relieve pressure on his brain. While in a coma, oxygen to the brain is reduced, and it therefore works less.

Michael Schumacher
Formula One Motor Racing - Canadian Grand Prix(01 of18)
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Michael Schumacher celebrates his win with Ferrari boss Jean Todt (L) and teammate Eddie Irvine (R) (credit:PA)
AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX(02 of18)
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MICHAEL SCHUMACHER CELEBRATES WINNING THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WITH THE BENETTON TEAM (credit:PA)
Formula One - San Marino Grand Prix - Race - Imola(03 of18)
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Ferrari's Michael Schumacher celebrates his second place finish. (credit:PA)
Formula One Motor Racing - Italian Grand Prix - Qualifying (04 of18)
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Michael Schumacher celebrates gaining pole position (credit:PA)
Formula One Motor Racing - Belgian Grand Prix - Race Day(05 of18)
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Ferrari's Michael Schumacher celebrates his seventh World Championship with the rest of the Ferrari team (credit:PA)
Formula One Motor Racing - Belgian Grand Prix - Race Day(06 of18)
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Ferrari's Michael Schumacher celebrates his seventh World Championship with the rest of the Ferrari team (credit:PA)
Formula One Motor Racing - Brazilian Grand Prix(07 of18)
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Brazilian Ayrton Senna celebrates at the top of the podium with Damon Hill, second and Michael Schumacher, third (credit:PA)
Formula One Motor Racing - Malaysian Grand Prix (08 of18)
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Michael Schumacher celebrates winning the race by wearing a red wig (credit:PA)
German Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher(09 of18)
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IMOLA, Italy: German Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher attends to the inauguration of a picture of Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna on the Imola racetrack after the second qualifying session on the eve of the San Marino Grand Prix, 24 April 2004 in Imola, Italy. Ayrton Senna died ten years ago, during the San Marino Grand Prix, 01 May 1994. AFP PHOTO JEAN-LOUP GAUTREAU (Photo credit should read JEAN-LOUP GAUTREAU/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX(10 of18)
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MICHAEL SCHUMACHER CELEBRATES WINNING THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WITH THE BENETTON TEAM (credit:PA)
Formula One - Spanish Grand Prix, Barcelona (11 of18)
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Britain's Nigel Mansell (right) celebrates by giving Germany's Michael Schumacher a drink of champagne (credit:PA)
Motor Racing ... Japanese Grand Prix(12 of18)
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The new World Champion Damon Hill celebrates with the old World Champion Michael Schumacher (credit:PA)
Schumacher British Grand Prix (13 of18)
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Ferrai's Michael Schumacher celebrates his victory as he goes round Club Corner at the end of Foster's British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Northamptonshire. (credit:PA)
British Grand Prix Hakkinen (14 of18)
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McLaren's Mika Hakkinen (right) from Finland celebrates with Ferrari's Michael Schumacher from Germany after winning the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. (credit:PA)
Auto - Race Of Champions 2007 - Wembley(15 of18)
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Michael Schumacher celebrates as Team Germany win the ROC Nations Cup during the the Race of Champions 2007 at Wembley Stadium, London. (credit:PA)
Auto - Race Of Champions 2007 - Wembley(16 of18)
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Germany's Michael Schumacher with team mate Sebastian Vettel (left) as Team Germany win the ROC Nations Cup during the the Race of Champions 2007 at Wembley Stadium, London. (credit:PA)
Schumacher British Grand Prix(17 of18)
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Ferrari's Michael Schumacher celebrates on the podium after winning the Foster's British Grand Prix at Silverstone in Northamptonshire. (credit:PA)
Motor Racing - Race of Champions - Wembley Stadium(18 of18)
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Michael Schumacher (2nd left) of Team Germany celebrates winning the ROC Nations Cup (credit:PA)

Dr Richard Greenwood, an acute brain injury specialist at the University College London Hospital, said the German may have to adjust to a very different life.

"If Schumacher survives, he will not be Schumacher," Greenwood said in the Times.

"He will be [Joe] Bloggs. His rehabilitation will only be effective if he comes to terms with being Bloggs.

"That is a very, very hard process to take people through. They need to come to terms with their limitations — the fact they have changed."

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