Stephen Fry told 'you won't walk again' after horrific fall off stage
Stephen Fry has opened up about the full extent of his horrifying injuries after he plunged off a six-foot platform at the CogX Festival at the O2 in London in September. The British icon had only just finished giving his speech about the impact of AI when the accident occurred.
The actor and historian, 66, exited the stage at the £495-ticket festival and fell onto solid concrete, smashing his pelvis, ribs, and leg. He was told he might never be able to walk again but has now made a full recovery after briefly using a cane to help him walk.
In an interview with Claudia Winkleman on BBC Radio Two, he went into the full extent of his injuries, which included breaking his leg in two places, smashing his pelvis in four spots, and cracking a couple of ribs.
Thankfully, he is back to fighting fit but admitted he misses using the walking stick sometimes. He said: “It's been fine so far but I feel slightly self-conscious without the stick. The cane, more than helping me walk, is a flag for everyone around. I live in the centre of London where the pavements are absolutely packed. So [this time of year] you get slightly nervous with people stopping to take pictures of lights, or the [pavement] is slightly slippy.”
Stephen is now able to move around without the use of a cane (Hannah Young/REX/Shutterstock)READ MORE: Superdrug shoppers snap up 'free' Revolution cream blush and compare it to Charlotte Tilbury
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Stephen also revealed that part of his speedy recovery was due to, in part, taking the controversial pain-killing drug Oxycontin, something he was extremely worried about doing.
The actor, who was treated at the Queen Elizabeth Woolwich, shared: “The first night they took me to hospital, the nurse brought out this little pot with pills in and I asked what they were. She said that's zolpidem to help you sleep, this is this, and this one is for your pain. It's called Oxycontin.”
Remarking to the nurse that he knew Oxycontin was a highly addictive opioid drug, he told her that he didn’t want to take it and would prefer to endure the pain. Stephen, who has spoken openly about taking cocaine, revealed he had a frank conversation with his doctor the next day.
He went on: “The surgeon comes round and said ‘oh you've been refusing the pain-killing’. And I said it was very kind of you, but I'll put up with a bit more pain. He said you misunderstand I didn't prescribe it for your sake at all, I prescribed it for the sake of the NHS.
“He said [there are] two scenarios: one you don't take this pain killer which is the best pain killer yet to be devised for the kind of pain you are in. For six or seven weeks, you'll lie without being able to move and what will happen to your muscles is pretty sorry, and your recovery will be months and months.
National treasure, Stephen Fry, smashed his pelvis in four places after falling six-foot (Ash Knotek/REX/Shutterstock)“Scenario two: you take the pill and probably tomorrow afternoon I'll send round a couple of burly physios who will get you on your feet, put you in crutches and you'll shuffle in some pain for about five minutes and then be anxious to get back to bed, but the next day a few more shuffles, the next day a step or two, you will sit in a chair for half the day and feel a little more human and you will have reduced your recuperation time massively.
“So, these pills are not just for your comfort they are there to speed up your recovery to save the NHS money.”
Stephen is a staunch supporter of the NHS. In February, Fry added his voice to the public ownership campaign group We Own It, which has criticised outsourcing in the NHS.
The comedian and presenter, who used to present BBC comedy show QI and has acted in dystopian film V For Vendetta and period dramas Gosford Park and Wilde, said in a video released by the group’s Twitter page: “We own it. It’s ours. The NHS belongs to us.”
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