The wife of MICHAEL SCHUMACHER "appealed to the media on Tuesday to leave the French hospital they have staked out" since the German was critically injured in a skiing accident nine days ago, and to "let the doctors do their job," according to Erik Kirschbaum of REUTERS. CORINNA SCHUMACHER "also asked the media to leave her family in peace" after German reports said on Monday that "there had been a slight improvement in the former driver's condition, hours after Grenoble hospital had issued a bulletin saying he was still stable but critical." In a statement, Corinna Schumacher said, "Please support us in our joint struggle with Michael. It is important to me that you relieve the doctors and the hospital so they can work in peace" (REUTERS, 1/7). The AFP reported Schumacher's fall "has generated massive media interest," with his hospital in the French city of Grenoble "under siege by reporters and photographers." A source close to Schumacher said on Monday he had seen a "slight improvement," after doctors said he was still in a stable but critical condition (AFP, 1/8). The AFP also reported footage from the camera strapped to Schumacher's helmet as he fell and slammed his head while skiing "can be used, a source close to the probe into the accident said Tuesday." It "had been unclear until now whether the camera was working at the time of the accident, or whether the footage would be clear enough to use" (AFP, 1/8).
