Intro:

Grenoble University Hospital's chief anesthesiologist Dr Jean-Francois Payen said on Tuesday that 'the next few hours are crucial' to determining the extent to which Michael Schumacher, 44, can recover from his skiing accident. The seven time Formula 1 World Champion had a scan on his head injury this morning after he hit his head on a rock on Sunday morning.

Script:

SOUNDBITE: (English), Grenoble University Hospital's chief anesthesiologist Dr Jean-Francois Payen:
"So we discussed with our colleagues and decided to propose a new strategy including the evacuation of a brain haematoma and this strategy was proposed to the family and with the family's agreement we went to the operating theatre. The haematoma was successfully removed and the CT scan today is better and the clinical situation has improved slightly compared to yesterday. But at this time it is too premature to make any speculation about his condition."

SOUNDBITE: (French), Grenoble University Hospital's chief anesthesiologist Dr Jean-Francois Payen:
"The situation is better controlled than yesterday. We can't say that he is out of danger but we have won a bit more time in his development. The next few hours are crucial in our therapy strategy."