Michael Schumacher in critical condition after skiing accident

Michael Schumacher is in a critical condition after a skiing accident in Meribel, says the French hospital treating him.

Michael Schumacher, 44, suffered serious brain trauma, was in a coma on arrival and underwent a brain operation.

He was skiing off-piste with his son in the French Alps on Sunday when the accident occurred.

Michael Schumacher was wearing a helmet when he fell and hit his head against a rock, his manager Sabine Kehm said.

Early reports had said his condition was not life-threatening and he reportedly walked away from the accident complaining only of feeling a bit shaken.

The accident took place in the French ski resort of Meribel on Sunday morning.

The resort’s director, Christophe Gernignon-Lecomte, said Schumacher was attended to by two ski patrollers who requested helicopter evacuation to the nearby valley town of Moutiers.

The seven-time Formula 1 champion was subsequently moved to the bigger facility at Grenoble, in south-east France. His wife Corinna and two children are with him.

“Mr. Schumacher was admitted to the University Hospital of Grenoble at 12:40, following a skiing accident which occurred in Meribel in the late morning,” the Grenoble hospital said in a statement.

“He suffered a severe head injury with coma on arrival, which required immediate neurosurgical intervention. He remains in a critical situation.”

The hospital statement was signed by the facility’s neurosurgeon, the professor in charge of its anaesthesia/revival unit, and the hospital’s deputy director, reports said.

A hospital official declined to give more details and said more information would be given out on Monday, said Reuters news agency.

Experts say it is likely that his brain began to swell and the urgent surgery was required to relieve the pressure.

Professor Gerard Saillant, a close ally and friend of Michael Schumacher, and his former Ferrari team boss Jean Todt are at the hospital.

Prof. Gerard Saillant is an expert in brain and spine injury. He oversaw Michael Schumacher’s medical care when the driver broke his leg in the 1999 British GP.

Michael Schumacher, who turns 45 on January 3, retired from F1 for a second time in 2012.