Formula 1 fans are holding a silent birthday vigil outside the Grenoble hospital where Michael Schumacher is currently receiving treatment following his injury on the slopes above Meribel at the weekend. The F1 star, who retired in 2012 after seven championship wins, turns 45 today.
Members of Ferrari fan clubs from Italy and France, mostly dressed in red team colours, will be among those wishing to provide moral support to the Schumacher family who have been at the racing star's bedside since the weekend, expressed their gratitude for the many messages of support they have received.
Michael Schumacher remains in a, "stable but critical condition," according to his manager, who also confirmed yesterday that his helmet did crack in two, as previously rumoured, when his head hit a rock. However the helmet is credited by surgeons for absorbing much of the impact so that Mr Schumacher is still alive.
His doctors said on Tuesday that Michael Schumacher had shown signs of improvement, but was still "not out of danger" and said it might well be weeks of even months until it's known how much, or hopefully how little, long term damage has been done. It is possible to keep someone in a medically induced coma for several weeks and for them still to make a full recovery.