By Peter Allen In Paris
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Michael Schumacher suffered a horrific ski fall in 'virgin territory' which was 'not marked with the dangers of the mountain', French police revealed today.
Prosecutors also claimed that he had 'chosen' to descend into a dangerous area - suggesting he was entirely at fault.
It follows claims that criminal prosecutions might follow the January 29th accident which left the Formula 1 motor racing legend in a coma.
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Michael Schumacher crashed and suffered a serious head wound after hitting a rock in the French Alpine resort of Meribel
Lawyers had argued that managers in the Alpine resort of Meribel, eastern France, might face up to three years in prison because dangerous rocks on the slope were not marked properly.
But Stephane Bozon, the gendarme commander leading the enquiry into the accident, said Schumacher was a full nine meters (29.6ft) away from the marked piste and all safety procedures had been followed.
'Schumacher found himself in an area which was not marked with the dangers of the mountain,' said Mr Bozon.
He said there was not legal requirement for the 'virgin territory' to be marked, because it was clearly off-piste.
Mr Bozon was speaking at a press conference in Albertville, a few miles from the Grenoble hospital where Schumacher remains in a coma, 10 days after the accident.
This is the area where Schumacher crashed, somewhere between slope Biche (right) and Chamois, at Saulire mountain near Meribel
A GoPro sports camera strapped to Schumacher's helmet is being examined 'image by image', Albertville prosecutor Patrick Quincy told the same conference.
'We proceeded to examine the film,' said Mr Quincy, saying that it 'gives us a great deal of information and confirms the information which we had at hand.'
Mr Quincy also suggested that there would be no criminal prosecution against those responsible for marking the slopes.
Edouard Bourgin, a lawyer specialising in the defence of accident victims, was among those who had suggested that the resort had been at fault, and huge fines, compensation, and a prison sentence of up to three years could result.
But Mr Quincy said that 'all rules' governing signalling 'had been respected' by those responsible for the area where Schumacher fell, between a clearly marked red and blue run.
The Grenoble University Hospital Centre where former German Formula One driver Michael Schumacher is being treated for a severe head injury
He said Schumacher had 'deliberately chosen' to go into this potentially dangerous area while skiing with his 14-year-old son, Mick, and a group of friends.
Mr Quincy said it was hard to work out what speed Schumacher had been skiing at, but added that this was 'not particularly important' to the enquiry.
Asked directly if Schumacher had 'made a mistake', Mr Quincy replied: 'At the current stage of the enquiry, I can't answer that question'.
Schumacher was on rented skis, which were in excellent condition, and there was 'nothing to suggest they had anything to do with the accident.'
Medics have noted a 'slight improvement' in the health of Schumacher, but he remains 'critical' following two brain operations.
Mr Quincy said he was 'not impressed' by claims that another skier had filmed the accident.
A flight attendant from Essen has said he was filming his girlfriend on the slopes when he happened to catch what he believes was Schumacher's fall in the background.
Corinna Schumacher, the star's wife, released a statement on Tuesday saying: 'Please support our shared fight with Michael. It is important to me that you take the pressure off the doctors and the hospital so they can do their work'.
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