French newspaper says Formula One champion blinks during the “first stage” of brain tests
Doctors say Michael Schumacher would have died straight away if he had not been wearing a helmet when he had his skiing accident Photo: Alamy
By Alexandra Williams
Formula One legend Michael Schumacher is “responding to instructions” as medics gradually bring him out of his coma, according to reports.
It has also been alleged that the seven-time world champion has blinked during brain tests.
Citing “very reliable sources”, L’Equipe newspaper said Schumacher has undergone a number of neurological tests since Monday and he has responded “positively”.
Schumacher, 45, was plunged into an artificial coma after suffering traumatic brain injury in his near-fatal skiing accident on December 29 in the French resort of Meribel. Shutting down function can give the brain time to heal.
The sports daily revealed on Wednesday that medics had started the process to end his coma by gradually reducing the dosage of powerful anaesthetic drugs being administered.
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And on Thursday the newspaper revealed Schumacher had blinked during the “first stage” of brain tests.
The newspaper’s deputy editor Jérémie Arbona said the publication was “100 per cent sure” that its story was correct.
The paper wrote: “After gradually reducing the sedation of the patient, the team of Professor Emmanuel Gay [the medic overseeing Schumacher’s treatment] has been doing neurological tests since Monday. During this first stage, the patient blinked.” Sky News quoted sources saying Schumacher was “responding to instructions”.
It is not known if the information from the two separate reports is linked and therefore whether Schumacher blinked on command.
But Professor Jean-Luc Truelle, the former head of the neurology department of the Foch hospital in Suresnes, told L’Equipe that once the patient opens their eyes there would be a “re-establishment of some kind of communication, which we verify through simple commands,” such as “open your eyes, shut your eyes, squeeze your hand".
"Schumacher appears to show this type of reawakening,” wrote L’Equipe.
The newspaper said it was “undoubtedly the best news” since his accident.
Earlier in the day, following intense media interest worldwide, Schumacher’s manager Sabine Kehm was forced to confirm that Schumacher was being brought round from his coma. She had initially responded to the reports by telling fans to treat all unofficial statements as speculation.
She said: “Michael’s sedation has recently been reduced to initiate a process of awakening which may take a long time.
“To protect the family, initially it was clearly agreed between all parties only to disclose this medical information once this process was consolidated.
“The family wishes to express sincere appreciation for the sympathy they have received from around the world.” Schumacher has been receiving round-the-clock care in Grenoble University Hospital.
Surgeons have performed two operations to relieve pressure on his brain and remove blood clots.
According to Prof Truelle, the two months following this phase are a period of confusion in which the patient is in a state of “lethargy” and that recovery stage can take “several years in the case of serious head injuries".
It is possible for someone to spend several weeks in an induced coma and make a full recovery. But Professor Gary Hartstein, Formula One’s chief medic between 2005 and 2012, said: “It is extremely unlikely, and I’d honestly say virtually impossible, that the Michael we knew prior to this fall will ever be back.” Wife Corinna, 44, with whom the champion has two children Gina Marie, 16, and Mick, 14, has remained at his bedside.
Schumacher had his catastrophic accident in the French ski resort of Meribel, where he owns a chalet.
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