Much loved British motor racing legend Sir Stirling Moss has been hospitalised after falling down three floors of a lift shaft at his home in London.
The serious accident occurred 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.
The accident occurred because 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. Sir Stirling, who is 80 years old, 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 Moss was taken to Royal London Hospital where he underwent surgery for his multiple injuries, following the incident at his home in Mayfair on Saturday evening.
He is now being described as comfortable and recovering in the London hospital after surgery to both ankles.
Sir Stirling Moss was one of the most successful racing drivers of the 1950s.
Although he never won the coveted World Championship, he was a very versatile driver who was equally at home notching up victories over long distance road races as he was on the Grand Prix circuit.
He was a four time runner up for the World Championship, leading many racing commentators to describe him as the best driver never to win it.
A much loved institution in the UK to this day, since retiring from high profile motor sports he has maintained a public persona over the years via TV and advertising appearances, as well as being involved with a number of charities including Prostate UK.
In a press statement on the Stirling Moss website, the family are said to be very relieved that Stirling Moss survived the fall, demonstrating that his body still has the same resilience to injury as it did in his racing days.
Lady Moss, Sir Stirling’s wife, said:
“This was a very unfortunate accident. It could have just as easily been another member of the family stepping into where the lift should have been”.
The family have also stated their thanks to everyone, on behalf of Sir Stirling, for the many messages of support flooding in.
Stirling Moss is also described as well on the road to recovery but it is expected that it will take up to six weeks for him to recover from his injuries.
His immediate family were present with him at the time of the accident and paramedics were called and then he was taken to the Royal London Hospital. He remained conscious throughout.
Then 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.
Such is the iconic status of Stirling Moss that for many years during and after his career, the rhetorical phrase: “Who do you think you are, Stirling Moss?” was a common joke between British police officers and speeding motorists.
Stirling Moss even tells a story about how he was once stopped for speeding and asked just that but when the police officer was told he was indeed Stirling Moss the officer looking at him in disbelief.
Moss appeared in a famous 1977 television commercial for a Renault 20 car, based on the story. After driving through country roads Stirling Moss stops next to a temporary traffic light and revs his engine.
A policeman on a bike knocks on his window and asks: “Who do you think you are? Stirling Moss?”
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