Within days of German Formula One legend Michael Schumacher skiing accident in which he was left in a coma and fighting for his life, German Chancellor Angela Merkel (in pic) too has been involved in an accident while skiing and fractured her pelvis -- she is walking with the help of crutches, forcing her to call off some foreign visits and official appointments, her spokesman said yesterday.

Merkel fell while skiing over the Christmas vacation. What she first thought was heavy bruising turned out to be a partial fracture, meaning she must take it easy for three weeks and work from home where possible, said her spokesman Steffen Seibert.