30/12/2013
NEWS STORY
After almost twenty-four hours of speculation, the doctors actually treating Michael Schumacher this morning hosted a press conference.
In reality, the team at the Grenoble hospital where the German is being treated were unable to give any further insight other than we are currently in a 'wait and see' situation.
However, contrary to reports that appeared overnight they have confirmed that the German has not undergone a second operation.
Earlier, Dr Gary Hartstein, who was officially appointed Prof Sid Watkins assistant by the FIA in 1997, and succeeded Watkins as Formula One Medical Delegate following his retirement in 2005, had tweeted that "a second operation would ofc not be welcome news".
Though they were unable, and totally unwilling, to speculate on how events might unfold, the doctors treating Schumacher, who is an induced coma, confirmed that his condition remains "very serious" and that he is "fighting for his life".
"We can say that his condition is life-threatening," said Jean-Francois Payen, head anaesthetician at the CHU Hospital. "For the moment we cannot say what Michael Schumacher's future is."
Stephan Chabardes, the neurosurgeon treating the German subsequently revealed that the seven-time champion, other than internal bleeding (on the brain), has numerous injuries including contusions and lesions. He confirmed that the initial surgery was to treat the bleeding.