16/06/2014
NEWS STORY
Michael Schumacher's official spokesperson, Sabine Kehm, has issued an update on the German's condition.
A brief statement issued this morning - and clearly in reaction to some of the highly speculative media reports over the last few days - reads:
"Michael has left the CHU Grenoble to continue his long phase of rehabilitation. He is not in a coma anymore.
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 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."
It is almost six months since Schumacher's horrific accident on the ski slopes and over two months since the last official statement from Ms Kehm.
In the absence of official updates, even though it was previously made clear that news would only be made public if it was deemed significant, in recent days a number of highly speculative claims have appeared, the usual suspects subsequently jumping on the bandwagon and indulging in what can only be described as 'Chinese Whispers'.
Such reporting is of benefit to nobody, indeed, it is distressing and damaging to Schumacher's family and his millions of fans around the world, consequently, as ever, we will only publish official updates as and when they become available.
Chris Balfe