From BBC News

Keith Richards 'tree fall' injury

Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards has been taken to hospital in New Zealand after injuring himself while on holiday in Fiji.
A band spokeswoman said Richards had suffered "mild concussion" and was taken to hospital as a precaution.

Media reports in Australia and New Zealand said Richards had hurt his head when he fell from a coconut tree.

The legendary musician is mid-way through a world tour with the famous British band.

The band most recently played in New Zealand and start the European leg of their tour in Barcelona next month.

"Following treatment locally and as a precautionary measure he flew to a hospital accompanied by his wife Patti for observation," the spokeswoman said.

New Zealand's Sunday Star Times reported that Richards was being treated in a hospital in Auckland and that he was conscious, mobile and had not undergone surgery.

The incident happened earlier this week but the 62-year-old rock star was taken to hospital on Saturday.

The spokeswoman said she did not know how the injury happened.

duh, really

Thank you for this info, some of us hadn't heard this yet. I hope he gets better soon!

Fiji Keith?

I read somehwere that he fell out of a tree.

He and the misses were at an exclusive resort on Fiji when he fell out of a palm tree, according to a news release from a Fiji t.v. station. What the hell he was doing up in a palm tree is anybody's guess. Too many vodkas and orange juice? Misses Keith wanted a fresh coconut as a souvenier of their time together? At least Rod's aging well....

This is the latest report from the AP. Looks like he is all right, if reports of security guards carrying guitar cases into the hospital are true.


Reports Conflict Over Richards Accident By RAY LILLEY, Associated Press Writer
Sun Apr 30, 3:22 PM ET

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - Keith Richards fans gathered outside a hospital Sunday where the Rolling Stones guitarist was believed to be undergoing treatment for a mild concussion reportedly suffered when he fell out of a palm tree on vacation in Fiji.

One newspaper also reported that Richards, 62, got on a Jet Ski after the fall and had another accident. Several Australian and New Zealand media outlets reported the fall from the tree.

Band spokeswoman Fran Curtis has said only that Richards was injured earlier this week and flown to New Zealand with his wife, Patti, for observation. Her statement Saturday did not comment on Richards' condition or how he was injured.

New Zealand's Sunday Star-Times provided no details on the Jet Ski crash, but quoted Dr. Uzzel Kanti Dhar as saying that Richards was admitted to Suva Private Hospital spokesman hospital in the Fijian capital on Thursday, the same day he was said to have fallen from the tree.

Richards reportedly was airlifted to Auckland's Ascot Hospital later that day. Duty manager Steve Kirby refused to confirm early Sunday that Richards was a patient there, citing the hospital's privacy policy.

Fans gathered outside the hospital Sunday, and New Zealand's TV3 reported that Richards' wife arrived carrying clothes while a security guard carried in three guitar cases.

"Nobody likes falling from a height like that, but he's never fallen from grace for me," fan Dave Buchanan told TV3 News.

Richards and his wife were staying at the exclusive Wakaya Club resort on a small Fijian island when he reportedly was injured.

Salesi Finau of the resort told The Associated Press that Richards and his wife recently stayed there for about a week but would not say when they left or comment on reports that Richards had an accident.

The Rolling Stones played a concert in Wellington, New Zealand, on April 18 as part of their "A Bigger Bang" world tour.

According to the band's Web site, the Stones' next scheduled concert is late May at the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, followed by 34 more dates across Europe.