TV presenter, actor and writer Stephen Fry has spoken about a nasty fall in September in which he broke several bones.
The 66-year-old former QI host fell off a stage following a lecture at the O2 arena in London and was subsequently taken to hospital.
Fry told Claudia Winkleman on her BBC Radio 2 programme that he is "now without a walking stick" following the accident, in which he broke multiple bones.
Speaking about the fall, he said: "I did my bow after delivering this lecture, turned to go off stage and didn’t realise that I was walking off a part of the stage where there was nothing.
"Six foot drop onto concrete.
"So I broke my right leg in a couple of places and my hip and my pelvis in four places and a bunch of ribs.
"I am now fine. I’m now without a stick, like Lazarus, I have cast aside my crutches and stick."
He said he "praised my lucky stars" that he did not injure his spine or skull in the incident.
Speaking on what it has been like to use a walking stick, Fry said: "More than helping you walk and being some support, (it) is a flag to everyone around.
"And I live in central London where, as you know, the pavements are absolutely packed, so people suddenly stop to take a picture of the Christmas lights and you get very nervous about bumping into people when it’s slidy and slippy, with a wet leaf on the pavement…" he said.
"Actually it’s been fine so far, but I kind of feel a bit self-conscious without the stick."
Fry spoke about the treatment he received while he was in hospital and said a surgeon told him that if he did not take the painkillers he was prescribed he would be recovering for "months and months."
He was hesitant to take the pills due to previous drug addiction issues but decided to take the medication after his surgeon told him, "‘For six or seven weeks you’ll lie without being able to move and what will happen to your muscles… they’ll be atrophied, and your recovery will be months and months and months.'"
He also cited "constant physiotherapy" as hugely aiding his recovery.
Fry thanked the British health service, the NHS, on the radio show and said that the health service is "extraordinary".
The comedian and presenter was recently announced as presenter of the UK revival of long-running US game show Jeopardy!, which is coming to ITV in January 2024.
Source: Press Association
