As Natasha Richardson fights for her life at a New York hospital, her family and friends prepare for the worst. Meanwhile, her fans remain optimistic that the Tony Award-winning star will recover.

Friends told People on Tuesday that Richardson’s condition following a freak ski accident remains dire. Doctors described the 45-year-old actress’s head injury as a "leakage of blood between the brain and skull," the friend says. "There is no chance," a family friend told People last night. "It is a fact that her heart is beating but she is brain-dead."

Also according to People, friends and family members gathered for a vigil in New York. Richardson’s family — which includes husband Liam Neeson, mother Vanessa Redgrave and sister Joely Richardson — is supposed to issue a statement today. It appears they’ll have tragic news to share.

"It’s not official yet," said a friend to People, "but they basically will detach her."

While close friends reveal little hope, fans are coming together on the Internet to express their thoughts and optimism.

At the fansite, natasha-richardson.org, user Darla Pink wrote:

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family! I’m shocked by this news! You are truly one of favorite actresses and I wish you all the best.

To the Redgraves, Liam and family: My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.

A woman named Susan also shared her love:

So saddened to hear such terrible news. I love Natasha and have all her films. She is such a great actress and I was looking forward to new projects. I pray for her to recover and for her family. She seems to be such a wonderful mother and wife. I hope that all this news about her being gone already is not true. It would be such a loss.

On a Natasha Richardson Fans Facebook group, fans share photographs of the Tony Award-winning actress and post current reports on her condition. Currently, there are 28 comments — all of which echo shock, sadness and prayers.

I was shocked when I found what happened this morning, but I’m praying for her and her family — she’s one of my favorite actresses!

News outlets have been reporting conjecture and there are few confirmed details. Officials at Lenox Hill Hospital are keeping quiet. Richardson reportedly suffered a head injury  from tumbling on a beginner’s slope at a Montreal ski resort. At first she seemed OK, but an hour later, Richardson was rushed to a nearby hospital after complaining of a headache. She was flown home to New York yesterday.