Motor racing legend Sir Stirling Moss has undergone surgery in a London hospital after suffering multiple injuries when a lift malfunctioned at his Mayfair home.

The 80-year-old, who won 16 grands prix between 1951 and 1961, was admitted to the Royal London Hospital on Saturday evening after falling down three floors in the lift shaft at his home.

Moss suffered two broken ankles, four broken bones in his foot, skin aberrations and four chipped vertebrae in the accident. He was later moved to the Princess Grace Hospital for further treatment.

An update on Moss' official website confirmed he was "comfortable and recovering" after surgery to both ankles.

The statement added: "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 [former FIA medical delegate] 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."

According to the statement, the accident occurred "when 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."

Lady Moss, Stirling's wife, added: "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."

Medical staff expect it will take up to six weeks for Moss to recover from his injuries.