Michael Schumacher will remain invalid: Media report

Michael Schumacher “will remain an invalid for the rest of his life”, said London-based The Independent, quoting leading medical expert Erich Riederer.

“He will remain an invalid all his life and will always remain dependent on others' help,” said neurology specialist Riederer, the paper reported.

According to the report, Riederer said Schumacher will have “permanent” damage and that it will be a ”success“ if he manages to sit up unaided within the next three months and operate an electric wheelchair within six months.

After he was out of coma on June 16, Schumacher has left the hospital in Grenoble.

His spokesperson stated that he will continue his long phase of rehabilitation, away from the public eye.

On Dec 29 last year, while skiing in Meribel in France, Schumacher fell and hit his head on a rock.

Despite wearing a helmet, he sustained serious injuries and was airlifted off the mountain by helicopter.

Doctors undertook two surgeries to remove bleeding and reduce pressure on his brain. He was put into a medically induced coma at the University Hospital of Grenoble, where doctors subsequently assessed him to be in critical but stable condition.

At the end of January, doctors began to reduce his sedation to begin the process of waking him from his coma.

His family, including his father, brother, wife, children and his former team principals Jean Todt and Ross Brawn had been visiting the hospital.

The seven time German world champion has retired from  Formula One for the second time in 2012.