Fans hold birthday vigil for injured Schumacher
Fans gather outside a hospital where the seven-time world champion is in a coma after a skiing accident
Fans of Michael Schumacher gathered on Friday for a silent vigil for the Formula One legend’s 45th birthday as he lay in a coma in a French hospital after a weekend skiing accident.
Ferrari, which is bussing in scores of fans from Italy and France to the hospital in the Alpine city of Grenoble, put a special message on its website, saying “Forza Michael,” or “Go Michael” in Italian.
“He is tackling the most important fight of his life and therefore we want to send him very special wishes,” said Schumacher’s old team, as similar messages poured in from around the world.
Schumi has given us a lot in the past. The least we could do is to come here and support him and his family on his birthday
German former tennis ace Boris Becker wished his compatriot “Happy Birthday” on Twitter, adding “Fight Schumi” in a German hashtag.
The retired seven-time world champion slammed his head against a rock on Sunday while skiing in the French Alps and has had two operations to remove bleeding and pressure on his brain.
The accident shocked legions of fans used to seeing Schumacher cheat death on the race track.
He is being kept in an induced coma and in the latest health update given by his manager on Wednesday, his condition was described as stable but still critical.