The seven-time Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher is out of coma and has left the French hospital which was treating him for nearly six months after suffering a devastating ski accident in the French Alps on 29 December, said his spokeswoman, Sabine Kehm, on Monday. The 45-year-old German legend hit his head on a rock while skiing off-piste.
Schumacher underwent two operations after the accident to remove blood clots before being placed in a medically induced coma.
Schumacher will continue his rehabilitation at an undisclosed location, his family said in a statement.
“Michael has left the CHU Grenoble (hospital) to continue his long phase of rehabilitation. He is not in a coma anymore,” Sabine Kehm said in a statement.
His family thanked people who had sent messages of support, saying: “We are sure it helped him.”
Schumacher won seven championship titles in F1. He won two titles with Benetton in 1994 and 1995. Later, he joined Ferrari and won five consecutive championships from 2000 to 2004. The German race driver made a come back to the sport with Mercedes in 2010, securing only one podium before retiring for a second time at the end of 2012.