Stephen Fry remembers feeling “scared” after a fall

Stephen Fry became “scared” of performing basic movements after falling off a stage in 2023.
The 67-year-old actor struggled with chronic pain after his fall at the O2 Stadium in London and Stephen admitted it changed his entire outlook on life for a time.
Stephen, who is now off medication and pain-free, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “You almost call it a friend and say, ‘It’s OK, I know why you’re there’, and You are not a failure.” Part of evolution, or God, or whatever you want to call nature.
The veteran actor discussed his health problems with Professor Irene Tracey, the vice-chancellor of Oxford University who has dedicated her career to researching pain management.
He asked her: “Are we wrong to think that it is more British to believe that pain is something that should be endured?”
Stephen also noted that sometimes people believe that “we have to suffer when we have this injury, that it is the natural course.”
The actor suffered his fall in September 2023 and subsequently admitted that he was “very lucky” to still be able to walk.
Stephen said on Good Morning Britain: “It was pretty bad. I broke my leg in two places, my pelvis in four places and a few ribs, so it was pretty serious really.”
“I gave this talk. When I was finished, I bowed and left the stage, not realizing that most of the stage I was walking on was six feet of concrete. It was dark.”
“The orthopedic surgeon made it clear that he was dealing with people who had fallen from lower heights and may no longer be able to walk.
“The two things you shouldn’t hit are your skull or your spine. And I was very lucky that I didn’t do that, so there was no evidence of cognitive impairment.”