04/01/2014
NEWS STORY
In the wake of media reports that he is "out of danger", Michael Schumacher's official spokesperson has reiterated that the German remains "critical but stable".
"Michael's condition remains critical but stable," said Sabine Kehm in a statement this morning. "We would like to clearly stress that any information regarding Michael's health not coming from the doctors treating him or from his management must be treated as invalid and pure speculation," she added.
Earlier today a number of media outlets ran headlines suggesting that the German was "out of danger", their reports based on comments made by former F1 driver Philippe Streiff.
Streiff, a close friend of the Schumacher family, was himself left paralysed in a horrendous pre-season testing accident at the Jacarepagua circuit in Brazil. The Frenchman having participated in 55 Grands Prix with Renault, Ligier, Tyrrell and AGS.
Speaking to reporters outside the Grenoble hospital where Schumacher is being treated, Streiff told reporters: "I'm not a doctor, I'm repeating what Gerard Saillant told me. Gerard Saillant said it is a serious condition but his life is not in danger anymore now, thankfully.
"He was such a healthy man," added Streiff. "He's 45, he's young and has always been very fit. He is in top shape physically so there are no reasons why he would not make it."
Saillant, the brain and spinal injury expert who succeeded Professor Sid Watkins as president of the FIA Institute, has been present at the hospital since Monday, and is a close friend of both Schumacher and his former team boss at Ferrari, FIA president Jean Todt.
Meanwhile, Kehm confirmed that officials are now looking at the Go-Pro helmet camera that Schumacher was wearing at the time of his accident, though she stressed that the helmet was handed over voluntarily.
Chris Balfe: