Michael Schumacher out of coma, leaves French hospital

USPA News - Retired German race car driver Michael Schumacher has come out of a coma nearly half a year after he was critically injured in a skiing accident in France, his spokeswoman said on Monday. The Formula One legend has since been transferred to a Swiss hospital to continue his recovery.

"He is not in a coma anymore," said Schumacher`s spokeswoman, Sabine Kehm, adding that Schumacher had left the hospital in Grenoble and would continue his rehabilitation away from the public eye. She did not disclose where Schumacher had been taken, but Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) spokeswoman Darcy Christen confirmed Schumacher had been admitted to their facility in western Switzerland. "His family would like to explicitly thank all his treating doctors, nurses and therapists in Grenoble as well as the first aiders at the place of the accident, who did an excellent job in those first months," Kehm said in an e-mailed statement. "The family also wishes to thank all the people who have sent Michael all the many good wishes to Michael. We are sure it helped him." Kehm asked for understanding that Schumacher`s rehabilitation will take place in private, and no further updates were expected to come from the Formula One legend`s management. Kehm was previously quoted as saying by the UK`s Daily Mail that his recovery process would include relearning motor and speech skills. Schumacher, 45, was in a medically-induced coma for over five months but began to show signs of progress, including "moments of consciousness and awakening," in early April. The seven-time Formula One World Champion suffered a severe head injury from a skiing accident on December 29, 2013, when he fell and hit a rock while skiing with his family on the slopes of the French Alps in Meribel. Shortly thereafter he was placed in a medically induced coma and underwent two operations to remove blood clots from his brain. Schumacher, with 90 wins, 68 pole positions, 75 fastest laps, 1354 points and seven world titles, is regarded by many as the greatest Formula One driver of all time. He won two titles with Benetton, in 1994 and 1995, before switching to Ferrari in 1996 and going on to win five consecutive titles from 2000. In 2002, he made Formula One history by becoming the only driver to place in the top three in every race during a season and also broke the record for most consecutive podium finishes. He first retired after winning the 2006 Italian Grand Prix but returned to Formula One in February 2010, only to retire for a second time after finishing in 14th position at the Brazilian Grand Prix in November 2012.