Michael Schumacher Hurt In Skiing Accident

Former motor racing world champion Michael Schumacher has suffered a head injury in a skiing accident.

The 44-year-old sportsman was wearing a helmet when he reportedly hit his head on a rock in the French Alps.

He was airlifted off the mountain and is now in hospital after the accident in the resort of Meribel in the popular Three Valleys area.

His life was not in danger, according to French Mountain Gendarmerie, and it was understood he did not lose consciousness.

The duty manager at the hospital in Grenoble told Sky News that Schumacher had been admitted and was undergoing a scan.

He said he had no further information and that ''his injuries are being examined at the moment''.

The sports star was skiing with his 14-year-old son and some friends when the accident happened.

There was some confusion as to exactly where Schumacher was when he fell.

The Gendarmerie, which said he sustained a "relatively serious" head injury, claimed he was at the junction of two trails.

But the ski resort's sales director Oliver Desaulty told Sky News he was skiing off-piste.

Mr Desaulty said rescuers quickly reached the Formula One legend.

"Around 11am Michael Schumacher fell on the slopes," he said. "Well it was not really on the slopes – he was skiing a bit off-piste.

"(He was) close to a slope called Mauduit and he hurt his head.

"We are sure he had a helmet – we hope it will be okay. Some security patrol got to the spot immediately to check everything and we had to ask for a helicopter to take him to the hospital."

Meribel officials have also told French media that Schumacher was in shock but conscious, and added that police were looking into the incident.

His agent, Sabine Kehm, said: ''Michael fell on his head during a private ski trip in the French Alps.

"He was hospitalised and is receiving medical care. We ask for your understanding that we cannot give a running commentary on his state of health.

"He was wearing a helmet and was not alone.''

Schumacher, who first retired in 2006, owns a chalet in the resort and is a keen skier.

He was hurt seriously once before, in a motorcycling accident in February 2009 in Spain when he suffered neck and spine injuries.

He recovered sufficiently from those injuries to make a comeback in Formula One in 2010.

But he made a disappointing return to the sport, managing only one podium finish during his three years with Mercedes.

The German driver retired from F1 for a second time in December 2012.

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