Schumacher's family backs F1 star to recover (Update: Schumacher)

The family of comatose seven-time former Formula One (F1) champion Michael Schumacher strongly believes he will recover from his life-threatening injuries caused by a ski-ing accident in December last year.

They, however, admitted that Schumacher was "still in a waking up process" and that it could take a long time, as doctors try to ease him out of artificially-induced coma.

Schumacher's wife Corinna, 44, who has constantly been at his bedside in the intensive unit of the University of Grenoble Hospital in France for nearly three months, said in a statement that the Schumacher family remains very grateful for the continuous sympathy and good wishes coming from around the world.

According to The Mirror, the family does not wish to disclose medical details as it wants to protect Schumacher's privacy.

They have said that they will continue to communicate any decisive new information on the state of his health.

Schumacher has been in a coma since the accident on December 29, a few days short of his 45th birthday.

His wife Corinna and their two children Gina Marie, 16, and Mick, 14, are keeping vigil.