Stephen Fry says he’s ‘feeling whole and healed’ following horror fall that left him ‘lucky to walk again’ in health update

Stephen Fry said in a health update that he feels 'whole and healed' after the horror fall that made him 'happy to walk again'.

The actor and presenter, 66, had been speaking at the £495 CogX Festival at The O2 when the accident happened in September. He left the stage when he fell to the ground two meters from the edge.

In his first TV interview since the accident, he revealed on Wednesday's GMB that he had broken several bones and taken the controversial painkiller Oxycontin.

Stephen began: 'I feel whole and healed thanks to good physiotherapy. It was pretty nasty.

'I broke my leg in two places, my pelvis in four places, a set of ribs. I owe it to my physio and painkillers.'

He continued, “My surgeon was dealing with people who had fallen from lower heights and might never walk again.

'So it was really quite serious and actually painkillers – I know that sounds strange, I mean they obviously reduce the pain but they mean the physio can get you on your feet sooner.

“And even though it was the dreaded Oxycontin, which is spreading across America – the opioid crisis, I was obviously treated very well and weaned off it so I didn't become addicted, but because of the painkillers I was able to move sooner than I otherwise would have.” would do.

'And since then just a lot of hydrotherapy and physiotherapy.'

The update comes after Stephen revealed the complete fall from his O2 stage in a radio interview.

He was seen using a cane in November and appeared to be in good spirits at the time.

In an interview with BBC Radio Two last weekend he revealed the full extent of his injuries and that he no longer uses a cane to help with his mobility.

“I was doing an event at the O2 Arena,” he told presenter Claudia Winkleman. “I spent my hour after giving this talk, turning to leave the stage and not realizing I was walking off a part of the stage where there was nothing but a six-foot drop onto concrete .'

The actor was speaking at the CogX Festival at The O2 when the accident happened in September. He left the stage when he fell to the ground two meters from the edge

In his first TV interview since the accident, he revealed on Wednesday's GMB that he had broken several bones and taken the controversial painkiller Oxycontin.

He was seen using a walking stick in November and appeared to be in good spirits at the time (pictured in November with Simon Le Bon)

Stephen began, “I feel whole and healed thanks to good physical therapy. It was pretty nasty. I broke my leg in two places, my pelvis in four places, a set of ribs.”

'I broke my right leg in a few places, my pelvis in four places and a number of ribs. I'm doing well now. I am now without a cane.

'So far so good, but I feel a little self-conscious without the stick. The stick not only helps me walk, but is also a flag for everyone in the neighborhood. I live in central London, where the sidewalks are completely packed. So (this time of year) you get a little nervous when people stop to take pictures of lights, or the (pavement) is a little slippery.

He also shared his experiences at Queen Elizabeth Woolwich, where he was offered the controversial painkilling drug Oxycontin after the accident.

“(It's) not a famous hospital, but it does extraordinary work every day,” he said. 'They were brilliant for me. They are under enormous pressure, but they delivered everything I could wish for.

'The first night they took me to the hospital, the nurse brought out a bottle of pills and I asked what they were. She said this is zolpidem to help you sleep, this is this, and this one is for your pain. It's called Oxycontin.

'What did I say? That's the highly addictive opioid drug that's actually behind the opioid crisis. So I said no, I don't think I should have that.

“Anyway, the next morning the surgeon comes over and says, oh, you refused the pain relief. And I said it was very kind of you, but I'll take a little more pain.

'He said you misunderstand that I didn't prescribe it for you at all, but for the NHS.

“He said (there are) two scenarios: one where you don't use this painkiller, which is the best painkiller yet devised for the type of pain you're experiencing. For six to seven weeks you lie without being able to move and what will happen to your muscles is quite unfortunate, and your recovery will take months and months.

'Scenario two: you take the pill and tomorrow afternoon I will probably send around a few burly physios who will help you on your feet, put you on crutches and you shuffle around in pain for about five minutes and then become anxious about going back to bed, but the next day a few more shuffles, the next day a few more steps, you sit in a chair for half a day and feel a little more human and your recovery time is greatly reduced.

'So these pills aren't just for your comfort, they're there to speed up your recovery and save the NHS money.'

He added that after taking the opioid he felt “terrible itching” and that it made him feel “creepy.”

But he has seen the lighter side of the accident and says the outcome could have been worse.

'“The person who treated me told me he was treating a patient who had fallen the same day as me, half the distance, and would never walk again,” he said. “So I'm really counting my lucky stars. If it had been the spine or the skull, who knows'.

He added: 'So it was really quite serious and actually painkillers – I know that sounds strange, I mean they obviously reduce the pain but they mean the physio can get you on your feet.'

Stephen continued, “And even though it was the dreaded Oxycontin, it was clearly administered and taken off me properly so I didn't become addicted.”

aAfter the fall, Greenwich Council said it had been made aware of the incident and was considering opening an investigation.

Separately, CogX Festival organizers have started their own investigation into the fall. A spokesperson for the event said: “We were deeply concerned when we heard of Stephen's accident after he gave his inspiring speech on the impact of AI.

'We are thinking of him and wish him a speedy recovery. We have opened our own investigation and until then we cannot share any further details.”

A council spokesperson added: 'The council has received an accident report following an incident at the O2 last week and is considering whether further investigation is necessary.'