Albrecht out of coma

The Swiss Ski federation announced that Albrecht's condition had improved sufficiently for doctors at Innsbruck's University Hospital to also remove the respiration tube used to assist the skier's breathing.

Hospital spokesman Johannes Schwamberger said Albrecht was awake but not yet talking.

He told Reuters it was too early to say if the 25-year-old was aware of his situation.

Albrecht suffered the high-speed accident when he misjudged the final jump on the Austrian resort's challenging Streif course.

The 2007 world super-combined champion was thrown about 70 metres before landing on his back and bouncing face down towards the finish line.

The hospital said it would hold a news conference on Friday February 13 to give further details on his condition.