Schumacher has 'beaten lung infection'

Formula One legend Michael Schumacher, lying in a coma in a French hospital since a December skiing accident, has overcome a lung infection, German daily Bild reported on Friday. The newspaper had reported two days earlier that Schumacher had contracted pneumonia last week, but it said on Friday that the infection in fact had happened earlier and "this week no longer spells an acute danger". "Therefore Schumi has already won the fight against pneumonia," said the top-selling daily, using the popular nickname for the 45-year-old German racing driver. Schumacher has been in intensive care in Grenoble University Hospital since his December 29 accident in the Alpine resort of Meribel in which he hit his head against a rock in an impact strong enough to crack his helmet. After surgery to reduce bleeding and bruising he was placed in a medically induced coma and his body temperature lowered to reduce the risk of further damage. Schumacher's spokesman said on January 30 that the drugs used to keep him in a coma were being reduced with a view to bringing him back to consciousness. His family said on Thursday he was "still in a waking up process" which could take a long time. Source: AFP