Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher's manager has confirmed the German is out of coma and has left the intensive care unit in Grenoble hospital, nearly six months after a life-threatening accident.
"Michael has left the CHU Grenoble to continue his long phase of rehabilitation. He is not in a coma anymore," Schumacher's manager Sabine Kehm revealed in a statement.
The seven-time Formula 1 world champion had been in a skiing accident in the French Alps, where he sustained serious head injury after falling down an unsecured off-piste area, between Piste Chamoix and Piste Maudit, on 29 December.
After undergoing two operations to remove major blood clots, the 45-year-old was placed in a medically induced coma at Grenoble, to reduce the swelling in his brain.
Meanwhile, Kehm pointed out that Schumacher's family is pleased with the "excellent job" by the doctors and other medical staff so far.
"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."
The statement also revealed that Schumacher will continue his rehabilitation at an undisclosed location.
"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. For the future we ask for understanding that his further rehabilitation will take place away from the public eye."
