Sir Stephen Fry launches £100k damages claim after 'breaking multiple bones' in fall at O2

Sir Stephen Fry is claiming £100,000 in damages after falling two metres off a stage on to a concrete floor at the O2.

Sir Stephen, 68, is suing CogX Festival Limited and Blonstein Events after breaking multiple bones in the fall following a talk he gave at the east London venue during the CogX festival in September 2023.

High Court documents filed earlier this month said that, after giving a presentation, he fell "whilst exiting the stage backstage area", falling "approximately two metres from the stage to the concrete floor below".

The two companies were negligent and/or failed in their statutory duty, he claimed, by "failing to ensure that the stage and backstage area were safe, adequately lit and properly protected to prevent a fall from height".

The actor and presenter's claim is for "personal injuries and consequential losses up to £100,000, which includes an award for pain, suffering and loss of amenity exceeding £1,000, together with interest on damages… and costs".

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In December 2023, Sir Stephen told Claudia Winkleman's BBC Radio 2 programme that he broke his right leg "in a couple of places", as well as "my hip and my pelvis in four places and a bunch of ribs" in 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 on to concrete."

Keith Barrett, a partner at law firm Fieldfisher - which is representing Sir Stephen, said they had to take action because "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.

Sky News has approached CogX Festival and Blonstein Events for comment.

(c) Sky News 2026: Sir Stephen Fry launches £100k damages claim after 'breaking multiple bones' in fall at O2