Stephen Fry has filed a lawsuit seeking up to £100,000 in damages after suffering serious injuries from a fall at a tech event. The incident occurred at the CogX convention held at the O2 Arena in London in 2023, where Fry was delivering a keynote speech.
Stephen Fry’s Injuries and Incident Details
After completing his presentation on Artificial Intelligence, Stephen Fry fell approximately two metres from the stage onto the concrete floor. He broke his leg, hip, pelvis, and several ribs in the fall. Fry described the accident as stepping off a part of the stage where there was no floor, resulting in a six-foot drop. He expressed relief that he did not sustain injuries to his spine or skull.
Legal Action and Claims
Sir Stephen Fry has initiated a personal injury claim against CogX Festival Ltd and Blonstein Events Ltd, the creative agency involved in the event. The claim alleges negligence and breach of statutory duty by the defendants for failing to ensure the stage and backstage areas were safe, adequately lit, and properly protected to prevent such a fall.
The court documents state that the fall happened while Fry was exiting the stage backstage area after his talk. The claim seeks damages of up to £100,000 for the injuries and losses sustained.
Responses from Defendants
A spokesperson for CogX Festival Ltd said they were unable to comment due to the ongoing legal process but expressed concern for Fry’s accident and wished him a full recovery.
Blonstein Events Ltd has not yet been formally served with the claim. The company director, Sara Blonstein, stated that no court proceedings have been served and expressed confidence that their defence will be successful, asserting they were not responsible for the incident.
Stephen Fry’s lawyer, Keith Barrett of Fieldfisher, noted that court proceedings were necessary because the defendants do not accept Fry’s account of events. The case will be determined by the court to establish responsibility for the injury and losses.