Michael Schumacher is no longer in a coma and has left the hospital in Grenoble where he had been receiving treatment after being involved in a skiing accident last year.

The seven-times Formula One world champion sustained severe head injuries in the incident in the French Alps in December and was subsequently put into an artificially induced coma a few days later.

But his management company said in a statement yesterday: “Michael has left the CHU Grenoble to continue his long phase of rehabilitation. He is not in a coma anymore.”

It has been 170 days since Schumacher was injured following his fall off piste in the French Alpine resort of Meribel.

Schumacher initially required surgery to remove a haematoma from his brain, but despite its success, the 45-year-old was forced to remain in a coma under sedation.

Official reports after the initial frenzy surrounding Schumacher’s status have been few and far between, prompting a number of scare stories regarding his future.

Prior to today the last update on Schumacher’s condition had been in early April, albeit a positive one as it stated he was showing “moments of conciousness.”

University Hospital of Lausanne in Switzerland confirmed that Schumacher had been transferred there.

Darcy Christen, a spokesman for the hospital, said the hospital would not be disclosing any details about the star’s condition or which part of the hospital he is being treated in.

“I can’t say anything about his medical status. We have decided to ensure for him and his family privacy and medical confidentiality.” 

Schumacher’s family, however, have at least again offered their sincere gratitude to all those who have played a part in the process over the past five and a half months.

They added in a statement: “His family would like to explicitly thank all his treating doctors, nurses and therapists in Grenoble, as well as the first aiders at the place of the accident, who did an excellent job in those first months.

“For the future we ask for understanding his further rehabilitation will take place away from the public eye.”