Schumacher was helping skiing friend who fell off 'moments before crash', says manager

Formula One legend Michael Schumacher had reportedly been helping another skier who fell moments before he crashed into rocks in the French Alps leaving him fighting for life in hospital.

Reports suggested that Schumacher might have been travelling up to 96km/hr when he smashed into rocks off-piste near the French Alps resort of Meribel, which caused his ski helmet to break in two.

According to News.com.au, however, Schumacher's manager Sabine Kehm said it was not speed but a 'chain of unfortunate circumstances' that led to his crash, and revealed that the German was skiing with his teenaged son and a small group of friends when one of them fell.

Following the fall, Kehm further said that Schumacher stopped to help his friend up and then pushed off, attempting to make a turn onto a parallel run, but instead hit rocky outcrops between the two runs and struck a rock head-first, resulting in his condition since then.

Doctors previously said if Schumacher had not been wearing a helmet he would not have even made it this far toward survival, with the report adding that the racing ace was on a private trip to the area where he owns a chalet to celebrate the New Year and his birthday on Friday.