Michael Schumacher's manager says doctors have started the process of bringing the former Formula One champion out of the coma he has been in since a skiing accident a month ago.
The German was skiing in the French Alpine resort of Meribel on December 29 when he fell and hit the right side of his head on a rock.
Since then, he has been in an induced comas in Grenoble University Hospital.
His manager Sabine Kehm said in a statement on Thursday that "Michael's sedation is being reduced in order to allow the start of the waking up process which may take long time".