Innsbruck, Austria  - Doctors believe Swiss skier Daniel Albrecht has recovered sufficiently from injuries sustained in a crash in downhill training at Kitzbuehel, Austria on January 22 that they can slowly begin to bring him out of his induced coma.

Albrecht suffered head and lung injuries in the crash but doctors at the Innsbruck University Hospital where he is being treated said Sunday that the skier's medication was now being reduced to shorten the length of time he remains unconscious.

Albrecht's lung function has improved significantly and there have been no complications with the treatment of his head injury.

Swiss team doctor Hans Spring said at the alpine skiing world championships in the French resort of Val d'Isere that patients who spend so long in an induced coma lose between 10 and 15 kilograms of their muscle mass.

Only Albrecht's closest relatives will be present when he eventually awakes.

"For him it's like a hole that needs to be filled with information," said Spring. "His functions won't return like flicking a light switch. It's a slow process." dpa