Michael Schumacher 'moved to rehabilitation ward and is out of danger', claims German magazine

Reports from the seven-times Formula One world Champion's homeland state that he has been taken out of intensive care as he continues his recovery from a skiing accident

Michael Schumacher in 2010. The seven-times Formula One world champion has been in a coma for more than 13 weeks (AP)

Michael Schumacher is said to be “out of danger” after he was moved from the intensive care unit to a rehabilitation ward in the Grenoble University Hospital where he has been treated for life-threatening brain injuries, a German magazine has reported.

Schumacher suffered a severe brain trauma when he hit his head on a rock in a skiing accident last December while skiing in the exclusive French ski resort of Meribel. The seven-time Formula One world champion has been showing “small, encouraging signs” despite efforts to bring him out of a medically induced coma beginning in January.

Schumacher out of hospital, confirms manager

His manager, Sabine Kehm, has not given an update on Schumacher’s condition since early April when she confirmed the “wake up” process was on-going, but reports in German magazine Bunte reported that the 45-year-old had been moved from the intensive care unit to a separate rehabilitation ward.

The report went on to claim that he was now “out of danger”, although it was added that his chances of making a full recovery from his life-threatening injuries appeared to have diminished.

While Kehm has not issued a comment on the claims in Bunte, previous reports in various media outlets have led to an official statement from either Kehm or the Schumacher family, who have used Kehm as the sole source of information to release the latest updates on the former Jordan, Benetton, Ferrari and Mercedes driver.

Reports last month also claimed that Schumacher had been moved to a rehabilitation unit – which Kehm later denied – while a source told The Independent that activity at the Schumacher home in Switzerland had significantly increased, leading to hopes that he could soon return home for further treatment.

Schumacher showing 'signs of encouragement'

The claims come after his former team boss at Benetton Flavio Briatore said that “no news is not good news,” while former F1 medical doctor Dr Gary Hartstein voiced his concerns that there will never be good news in the hope of a recovery.

Briatore told Italian radio station Radio 24: “There is no news because the family is very closed. “They are not communicating. But surely no news in this case is not good news.”

Dr Hartstein had said previously: “I'm quite afraid, and virtually certain, we will never have any good news about Michael.”