Michael Schumacher Leaves Hospital; Manager Says 'No Longer in a Coma'

About six months after his ski accident in the French Alps, F1 driver Michael Schumacher has been transferred to a hospital near his home in Switzerland after waking up from coma.

This was the good news that greeted his fellow racers, friends and associates who became ecstatic after receiving word about his seemingly improving health condition. 

In a report by the DW, the F1 racer was transferred to the University Hospital in Lausanne, Lake Geneva where he will remain for treatment of his head injuries after hitting his head on a rock in the French Alps.

He will likely stay in a neurorehabilitation unit with nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and neuropsychologists, the Telegraph said in a report. The report added that body movement was only noted from Schumacher 24 weeks after his accident.

His manager Sabine Kehm told DW in an interview that Schumacher is no longer in coma and that he was transferred to a different medical institution to "continue a long phase of rehabilitation."

"For the future, we ask for your understanding so that his continuing rehabilitation takes place out of public view," Kehm added.

In a separete interview Lausanne hospital spokesperson Darcy Christen announced the admission of the German racer but stressed that they will respect the family's privacy and ensure medical confidentiality.

Schumacher meanwhile received greeting from his friends on social media. Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso tweeted that he is "so happy" with the news of "Michael's development."

Germany middlefielder Lukas Podolski, on the other hand, shared on social media "What a great news!!! Get well soon Schumi!!! I'm so glad and happy when I just heard it!!"

For his part, Formula One doctor Gary Hartstein said that though Schumacher is having problems expressing himself, he knows the racer will work hard to improve on it. 

According to German daily Bild, the F1 racer can now hear voices and respond to touches.

"He can communicate with his environment, especially his wife Corinna and his children. Now Schumacher's condition is considered stable enough that he no longer needs the help of specialists in Grenoble," the paper added.

But Dr. Ganesh Bavikatte of the Walton Centre explained that his full recovery could take years. "There are hopeful signs. He is physically fit, he is relatively young and I assume he did not have many pre-existing medical condtions," the doctor noted.