Michael Schumacher is in a critical condition and fighting for his life after suffering a serious head injury yesterday while skiing in the Alps.

Foreign media reports say the seven-time Formula One world champion is now in coma and undergoing a scan in hospital in France after suffering a head injury while skiing in Meribel.

The legendary sportsman, 44, was treated at the scene after falling while skiing off-piste with friends. Schumacher was taken to the local Moutiers hospital before being transferred by helicopter to Grenoble. He was reportedly conscious throughout.

Schumacher’s spokeswoman Sabine Kehm declined to give specific information regarding the severity of the injury, although she did release a statement confirming that Schumacher was wearing a helmet at the time of the fall and that no other person was involved.

“Michael suffered a head injury in a private ski trip in the French Alps. He was taken to hospital and is receiving professional medical care. We ask for understanding that we cannot give continuous information about his health. He was wearing a helmet and was not alone. For his fall, no other person was involved,” reads the statement.

Resort director Christophe Gernigon-Lecomte had earlier played down reports of a serious head injury. “He was transferred by helicopter to a hospital in Grenoble,” Gernigon-Lecomte told Radio Monte Carlo Sport. “At the moment I am unaware of the gravity of his injury. The police are in the process of investigating the cause of the fall.

“He fell at 11:07am, whilst off piste in Meribel. He was wearing a helmet and hit a rock. The emergency services arrived quickly at 11:15am.”

Gernigon-Lecomte was slightly more circumspect in a separate interview with Reuters. “It seems that he has suffered a head trauma, but I would not say how serious it is,” he said. “He was conscious but very agitated while being taken to hospital.”

A report in The Telegraph said: “Schumacher, who retired for a second time at the end of the 2012 season, is an experienced skier, having attended many editions of Wrooom, Ferrari’s annual pre-season event in the Italian Dolomites, which ended this year after 23 consecutive years.

“The German is the most successful driver ever to have competed in Formula One, having won seven drivers’ titles, two at Benetton and five at Ferrari, before retiring at the end of the 2006 season. After three years out, he made a comeback with Mercedes when the German manufacturer returned to the sport as a full works team at the start of 2010.

“Schumacher lives in Switzerland with his wife and two children. He is believed to own a chalet in Meribel.”

•Photo shows Michael Schumacher.

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