12/02/2014
NEWS STORY
It is understood that Michael Schumacher has contracted pneumonia whilst still in a coma following his skiing accident in December.
Although neither his official spokeswoman, Sabine Kehm, or official at the Grenoble hospital where he is being treated, and loathe to speculate, it is understood that contracting pneumonia in such circumstances is not unusual.
The claim originates with German publication Bild, however, while this has caused concern for the German, who has been in a coma since the accident on December 29, former F1 Medical Delegate, Gary Hartstein, says this was to be expected.
"Think I'd mentioned that one or even several bouts of pneumonia are inevitable," he tweeted last night. "In this context, pneumonia(s) is (are) the rule not the exception. I'm not minimising them.
"But this is certainly somewhere where Michael's superb pre-injury condition and resiliency will pay off big time," he added. "The fact of a pneumonia doesn't really inform us if he's breathing on his own or not."
Chris Balfe