'Slowly recovering Schumacher may take several months to emerge from coma'

Formula One legend Michael Schumacher may reportedly several months to wake up from his medically-induced coma, although he is slowly recovering from his devastating head injuries.

The seven-time German world champion, who retired in 2012, has been in the coma since his ski accident on December 29 at the French Alpine resort of Meribel.

According to the Daily Star, Schumacher's manager Sabine Kehm said in a statement that the German's sedation is being reduced in order to allow the start of the waking up process, which may take a long time.

The report mentioned that Schumacher's temperature was reduced to 34 C to decrease the swelling in his brain and is having his muscles massaged daily to stop them atrophying, adding that although he may never fully recover, but doctors are continuing tests on his reflexes.

The report further said that Schumacher is responding to instruction and blinked successfully during earlier tests, and a brain trauma expert Dr Clemens Pahl said that it means the pressure in his skull may have been reduced.

Pahl added that it often takes several times to get someone out of a coma successfully and safely and the report mentioned that doctors will first have to check if he responds to basic commands and then find out if he can breath on his own.

Image: Michael Schumacher
Photograph: Mark Thompson/Getty Images