Michael Schumacher taken out of his coma, responds positively: Report

German former Formula One driver Michael Schumacher skiing in the northern Italian resort of Madonnadi Campiglio. -AFP

German former Formula One driverMichael Schumacher is gradually being woken from his coma and is responding ‘positively’ to the treatment, according to a French newspaper.

To end the coma the dosage of powerful aneasthetic drugs being administered is gradually reduced.

The retired seven-time Formula One champion struck his head on a rock while skiing off-piste December 29 at Meribel ski resort in the French Alps. He has undergone two emergency operations and has been in a medically induced coma since the accident.

French sports paper L’Equipe said on Wednesday: “After four weeks in a coma Schumacher has been placed in a phase of gradual awakening. It is a slow and uncertain process of return.”

“He is responding positively to the process, started this week,” the paper added.

The news comes as Schumacher enters his fifth week of a medically induced coma, and there are fears he may remain in a ‘persistent vegetative state’ for the rest of his life even if the awakening treatment is successful.

In the case of traumatic brain injury, such as that sustained by Schumacher, doctors sometimes induce a coma. Shutting down function can give the brain time to heal.

To end the coma the dosage of powerful aneasthetic drugs being administered is gradually reduced.

Schumacher’s spokeswoman Sabine Kehm reiterated that speculation about his condition should be ignored.

Seven-time world champion Schumacher, 45, has been receiving round-the-clock care in Grenoble Hospital since December 29 when he hit his head on a rock while skiing off-piste in Meribel, in the French Alps