French Newspaper Reports Claim Michael Schumacher is Responding to Doctor’s Instruction as Revival from Induced Coma Commences
Formula One legend, Michael Schumacher is “responding to instructions” as medics gradually bring him out of his coma, according to reports from French 
tabloid L’equipe. It has also been alleged that the seven-time world champion has blinked during brain tests.
Schumacher, 45, was plunged into an artificial coma after suffering traumatic brain injury in his near-fatal skiing accident on December 29 in the French resort of Meribel. The sports daily revealed on Wednesday that medics had started the process to end his coma by gradually reducing the dosage of powerful anaesthetic drugs being administered.
On Thursday, the newspaper revealed Schumacher had blinked during the “first stage” of brain tests. The newspaper’s deputy editor Jérémie Arbona said the publication was “100 per cent sure” that its story was correct.
The paper wrote: “After gradually reducing the sedation of the patient, the team of Professor Emmanuel Gay [the medic overseeing Schumacher’s treatment] has been doing neurological tests since Monday. During this first stage, the patient blinked.”
Earlier on Thursday due to intense media interest worldwide, Schumacher’s manager Sabine Kehm was forced to confirm that Schumacher was being brought round from his coma. She had initially responded to the reports by telling fans to treat all unofficial statements as speculation.
She said: “Michael’s sedation has recently been reduced to initiate a process of awakening which may take a long time. To protect the family, initially it was clearly agreed between all parties only to disclose this medical information once this process was consolidated.
“The family wishes to express sincere appreciation for the sympathy they have received from around the world.”
