Moss in hospital after falling down lift

By Alan Baldwin

LONDON (Reuters) - British motor racing great Stirling Moss is recovering in hospital after plunging three stories down a lift shaft at his home and breaking both ankles.

A family statement on his website (www.stirlingmoss.com) said on Monday that Moss, who celebrated his 80th birthday last September, suffered the accident on Saturday and underwent surgery the next day.

Moss, widely known as the greatest driver never to win the Formula One championship, opened a lift door on the third floor of his house in central London and stepped forwards but due to a malfunction the lift had stopped on the floor above.

He also broke four bones in his feet, suffered four chipped vertebrae and skin abrasions but remained conscious throughout. He was expected to take six weeks to recover.

"He is comfortable, following a good night's rest post surgery, and is well on the road to recovery." The driver's wife Susie was quoted earlier by a friend as saying Moss was in good spirits and already complaining about the size and quality of the hospital breakfast.

Moss was a contemporary of the late Argentine world champion Juan Manuel Fangio.

Winner of 16 grands prix, Moss finished overall runner-up on three more occasions and retired after a career-ending 1962 crash at Goodwood.

(Editing by Justin Palmer/Kevin Fylan)