Seven-time Formula 1 champion, Michael Schumacher, is said to be “fighting for his life” after a ski accident in France.
A press conference given at 1000 hrs GMT on Monday confirmed that when he arrived at the hospital he was in a coma and was quickly operated on.
He still remains in a critical condition.
Early reports had said his condition was not life-threatening and he reportedly walked away from the accident complaining only of feeling a bit shaken.
Germany’s Bild tabloid reported that his condition had worsened and surgeons had drilled holes in his skull to reduce the pressure on his brain.
The driver remains in a critical condition in hospital in Grenoble with head injuries.
“We cannot tell you what the outcome will be yet,” the team treating him told a news conference.
His family are at his bedside.
He was skiing off-piste with his son in the French Alps on Sunday morning when the accident occurred.
Schumacher was wearing a helmet when he fell and hit his head against a rock, his manager Sabine Kehm said.
Reports in French and German media say that the F1 legend underwent a second operation during the night.
“Mr Schumacher was admitted to the University Hospital of Grenoble at 12:40 [11:40 GMT], following a skiing accident which occurred in Meribel in the late morning,” the Grenoble hospital said in a statement.
“He suffered a severe head injury with coma on arrival, which required immediate neurosurgical intervention. He remains in a critical situation.”
Michael Schumacher was Formula 1 Champion in 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.
He retired from Formula 1 at the end of 2006, came out of retirement in 2010 but failed to make any significant impact in any of the reces.
He retired again in 2012.
