8 March 2010

Sir Stirling Moss, 80, is recovering in hospital this evening after falling down a lift shaft at his home and breaking six bones, although his spirits are high enough for him to be joking about it.

He, or rather an aide, has even posted a photograph of the lift in question on his Twitter feed, as well as a jokey reference to bungee jumping.

A statement released on the official website of the former F1 driver, explains: “As a result of a lift malfunction, Sir Stirling Moss suffered two broken ankles, four broken bones to his foot, skin abrasions and four chipped vertebrae. He is now comfortable and recovering in a London hospital after surgery to both ankles.

“His immediate family were present with him at the time of the accident, Paramedics were called and he was taken to the Royal London Hospital. He remained conscious throughout. With the assistance of Professor Sid Watkins he was moved on Sunday to a hospital closer to his home where he underwent surgery on both his ankles, which were plated and pinned.”

“The accident occurred as a consequence of falling down three floors in the lift shaft at his home. The door to the lift, that should have remained locked if the lift was not on the floor that it was called from, opened in error. He stepped into the narrow open shaft in the expectation that the lift would be present for him to walk into, as it should have been.”

Sir Stirling is expected to take six weeks to recover.