Schumacher ’blinked’ as doctors move to end coma

Michael Schumacher has "blinked" and is "responding to simple instructions".

Those are the latest unofficial developments to emerge from the Grenoble hospital, after the F1 legend’s manager confirmed reports doctors are attempting to ease Schumacher out of his month-long coma.

France’s L’Equipe, having broken the news about the awakening process, now reports on Thursday that the great German has "blinked" his eyes as Dr Emmanuel Gay performed neurological reflex tests.

And Britain’s Sky News quoted unnamed sources as saying the former Mercedes and Ferrari driver was now "responding to simple instructions".

Schumacher’s manager Sabine Kehm, however, told the German news agency DPA that she would not "give information about intermediate steps", having confirmed officially that doctors were trying to wake the 45-year-old.

And Grenoble neurosurgeon Stephan Chabardes, who on Wednesday confirmed the awakening reports before they were officially confirmed, also was not commenting on Thursday’s latest developments.

"Please note that I will not comment for reasons of medical confidentiality," he is quoted by the German newsmagazine Focus.