Stephen Fry is suing CogX tech conference as well as the event organisers for £100,000, after a 6ft fall in 2023 left him with several broken bones.
Sir Stephen Fry is suing the CogX tech conference for a six-figure sum after he suffered from a major six-foot fall onto concrete.
The comic actor and broadcaster broke several bones, including his leg, hip, pelvis, and several ribs, after he fell while giving the keynote address in September 2023.
The 68-year-old Blackadder star previously commented on his injuries, explaining how the incident occurred. “I did my bow after delivering this lecture, turned to go off stage and didn’t realise that I was walking off the part of the stage where there was nothing – just a 6ft drop onto concrete,” he told Claudia Winkleman’s BBC Radio 2 show in December 2023.
“So I broke my right leg in a couple of places and my hip and pelvis in four places and a bunch of ribs.” Sir Stephen added that he walked with a stick for a while, but recovered with time, and felt lucky all things considered.
“I am now fine. I’m now without a stick, like Lazarus; I have cast aside my crutches and stick.” He added that a patient, “who had fallen on the same day as me, half the distance”, was told they would never walk again. “I really praise my lucky stars. If it had been the spine or the skull, who knows,” he added.
Now, a personal injury claim has been filed on his behalf against CogX Festival Ltd and creative agency Blonstein Events Ltd, seeking up to £100,000 in damages.
Court documents filed on his behalf said: “The Claimant brings a claim for damages for personal injuries sustained on 14 September 2023 at the O2 Arena, London, whilst attending the CogX Festival, where he had been engaged to deliver a talk on Artificial Intelligence.
“After concluding his presentation and whilst exiting the stage backstage area, the Claimant fell approximately two metres from the stage to the concrete floor below.
“The incident was caused by the negligence and/or breach of statutory duty of the Defendants, its servants or agents, in failing to ensure that the stage and backstage area were safe, adequately lit and properly protected to prevent a fall from height.”
In response to Sir Stephen’s claim, a spokesperson for CogX Festival Ltd told the BBC: “We are unable to comment while the legal process is ongoing, but we were all deeply concerned when Stephen had the accident after giving his incredible speech on the Impact of AI, and we continue to send him our best wishes for a full recovery.”
Keith Barrett, a lawyer and partner at law firm Fieldfisher, which is representing Sir Stephen, said: “It’s very unfortunate that court proceedings were necessary, but the defendants do not accept Sir Stephen’s account of events, and we have had to ask the court to determine who is responsible for his injury and losses.”
No hearing has yet been scheduled in the claim.
The Mirror has approached CogX Festival Limited and Blonstein Events for comment.
Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: mirror.co.uk
