'Encouraging signs' in Schumacher recovery

Michael Schumacher has exhibited ‘small, encouraging signs’ in his recovery, according to a statement released on behalf of the German’s family on Wednesday.

“We are and remain confident that Michael will pull through and will wake up,” the statement read.

“There sometimes are small, encouraging signs, but we also know that this is the time to be very patient. Michael has suffered severe injuries.”

Schumacher, 45, was placed in an induced coma in Grenoble's University Hospital in France after falling and hitting his head on a rock during a family ski trip last December. The German’s medical team began reducing his sedation at the end of January.

“It was clear from the start that this will be a long and hard fight for Michael,” the statement continued.

“We are taking this fight on together with the team of doctors, whom we fully trust. The length of the process is not the important part for us.

“We try to channel all the energies we have toward Michael and we firmly believe that this will help him. And we believe that he will also win this fight.”