Fake priest ‘tried to approach Schumacher in hospital’

Professor Jean-Francois Payen answers questions from journalists during a press conference at the Grenoble hospital, in the French Alps, where former seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher is being treated after sustaining a head injury during a ski accident in Meribel, France, Monday, Dec. 30, 2013. AP FILE PHOTO

GRENOBLE–A person dressed as a priest, reportedly a journalist, tried to approach Michael Schumacher, who is in a coma and critical after a ski accident in France, his manager said Tuesday.

“There have been several interesting incidents here at the hospital,” Sabine Kehm told reporters in the Alpine city of Grenoble, where the Formula One legend is being treated following his off-piste accident on Sunday.

“There apparently was a person dressed-up as a priest, who tried to get near Michael. I am asking everyone to let the doctors work and leave the family spend peaceful time with Michael.”

Responding to a question as to whether the priest was a journalist, she said: “It’s what I was told… We have clearly noted that people are trying to get beyond the press room here in the clinic. It’s revolting, in my opinion.”

Schumacher has been a coma since Sunday, when he was helicoptered to hospital after slamming his head on a rock while skiing off-piste in the upmarket resort of Meribel with his son.

Doctors said Tuesday that after a second operation to remove bleeding from his brain, he showed slight improvement but remained in a critical and fragile state.