Stephen Fry is suing two companies that organised a tech conference where he was injured in 2023 after falling off the stage, high court documents show.
Details of the Incident
The actor and presenter broke his hip and sustained multiple fractures to his right leg, pelvis, and ribs when he attended the CogX festival at the O2 Arena, where he delivered a talk on artificial intelligence on 14 September 2023.
Court documents reveal that Fry is bringing a claim for damages against CogX Festival Ltd and Blonstein Events, citing negligence and breach of statutory duty. The documents state: "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."
Claim for Damages
Fry is seeking damages for personal injuries and consequential losses up to £100,000, which includes an award for pain, suffering, and loss of amenity exceeding £1,000, along with interest and costs.
A spokesperson for CogX Festival Ltd said: "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."
Blonstein Events, the second company named in the claim, has not yet been formally notified. Company director Sara Blonstein noted that it is standard procedure for claimants to have four months in England and Wales to formally serve the claim. A statement from Blonstein Events said: "No court proceedings have been served by Sir Stephen Fry, nor those representing him. If court proceedings are served, both we and our insurers are confident that our defence will be successful as we were in no way responsible for this incident."
Fry's Account of the Fall
Speaking about the incident in 2023 to then BBC Radio 2 presenter Claudia Winkleman, Fry 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 on to concrete." He expressed relief that he did not injure his spine or skull.
Fry also praised the NHS, describing the health service as "extraordinary" and sharing his positive experience at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where staff were "brilliant" despite being under pressure.
