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| Schumacher fans hold birthday vigil for injured driver | Schumacher fans hold birthday vigil for injured driver |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Fans of Michael Schumacher are converging on a French hospital to mark the injured F1 legend's 45th birthday. | Fans of Michael Schumacher are converging on a French hospital to mark the injured F1 legend's 45th birthday. |
| Ferrari clubs from France and Italy are gathering outside his hospital in the city of Grenoble. | Ferrari clubs from France and Italy are gathering outside his hospital in the city of Grenoble. |
| On Thursday Schumacher's family thanked fans for their "great support" and described the German as a "fighter". | On Thursday Schumacher's family thanked fans for their "great support" and described the German as a "fighter". |
| The most successful Formula 1 driver in history is in a medically induced coma after suffering head injuries while skiing in the French Alps on Sunday. | The most successful Formula 1 driver in history is in a medically induced coma after suffering head injuries while skiing in the French Alps on Sunday. |
| He remains in a stable but critical condition, his manager has said. | He remains in a stable but critical condition, his manager has said. |
| Supporters plan to hold a one-minute silence outside the hospital. | |
| The German champion, who retired in 2012, had been skiing off-piste when he fell and hit his head. His helmet cracked on impact after hitting a rock. | The German champion, who retired in 2012, had been skiing off-piste when he fell and hit his head. His helmet cracked on impact after hitting a rock. |
| Ferrari - the racing team with which Schumacher had 72 of his 91 F1 wins - said in a statement that it wanted to send him very special wishes for his birthday as he tackled "the most important fight of his life". | Ferrari - the racing team with which Schumacher had 72 of his 91 F1 wins - said in a statement that it wanted to send him very special wishes for his birthday as he tackled "the most important fight of his life". |
| Doctors confirmed on Tuesday that Schumacher had shown signs of improvement, but was still "not out of danger". | Doctors confirmed on Tuesday that Schumacher had shown signs of improvement, but was still "not out of danger". |
| They ruled out giving a prognosis for his condition in the coming days and months. | They ruled out giving a prognosis for his condition in the coming days and months. |
| But it is medically possible for someone to spend several weeks in an induced coma and fully recover from it. | But it is medically possible for someone to spend several weeks in an induced coma and fully recover from it. |
| 'Sign of closeness' | 'Sign of closeness' |
| Ferrari said buses had been organised to transport the Italian and French fans to Grenoble for the tribute. | Ferrari said buses had been organised to transport the Italian and French fans to Grenoble for the tribute. |
| Spokesman Renato Bisignani said people were being encouraged to dress in red and bring flags, as "a sign of closeness to Michael Schumacher, done in a very respectful way". | Spokesman Renato Bisignani said people were being encouraged to dress in red and bring flags, as "a sign of closeness to Michael Schumacher, done in a very respectful way". |
| But the spokesman insisted that the event was not about promoting the Ferrari brand or its clients. | But the spokesman insisted that the event was not about promoting the Ferrari brand or its clients. |
| "We will make sure we remain sensitive at this difficult time," he said. | "We will make sure we remain sensitive at this difficult time," he said. |
| Michael Schumacher retired from F1 for a second time in 2012. | Michael Schumacher retired from F1 for a second time in 2012. |
| He won seven world championships and secured 91 race victories during his 19-year career. | He won seven world championships and secured 91 race victories during his 19-year career. |
| The driver won two titles with Benetton, in 1994 and 1995, before switching to Ferrari in 1996 and going on to win five straight titles from 2000. | The driver won two titles with Benetton, in 1994 and 1995, before switching to Ferrari in 1996 and going on to win five straight titles from 2000. |
| He retired in 2006 but managed to recover and made a comeback in F1 with Mercedes in 2010. | He retired in 2006 but managed to recover and made a comeback in F1 with Mercedes in 2010. |
| After three seasons which yielded just one podium finish, he quit the sport at the end of last year. | After three seasons which yielded just one podium finish, he quit the sport at the end of last year. |