Australian swim legend Dawn Fraser has suffered extensive injuries in a terrible fall but is proving again she’s a “tough lady”, according to her family.

The 87-year-old freestyle champion fell over at her daughter’s house on the Sunshine Coast last week and was rushed to hospital.

The Olympic hero suffered four broken ribs and had hip replacement surgery.

In a positive sign for her recovery, Fraser has since been released from intensive care. She is expected to remain in hospital for rehab.

Fraser’s daughter Dawn-Lorraine released a statement to Seven’s Sunrise program, saying her resilient mum was already “up and about”.

“Mum has scared the daylights out of us but seeing her up and about today is the best Christmas presents we could ask for,” she said.

“She is a tough lady.”

The family praised doctors and nurses and said: “We can’t thank them enough.”

“They are happy with mum’s progress,” Dawn-Lorraine said.

“The doctors have been reading Dawn the riot act after walking too much in her hip replacement rehab. But imagine being the doctor trying to tell Dawn Fraser what to do.”

Fraser is an eight-time Olympic medallist and one of only four swimmers to have won the same Olympic individual event three times – the women’s 100-metre freestyle.