Rhod's hospital tests after stage plunge

Consultants feared the stand-up had broken ribs or internal bleeding, but he was last night given the all-clear by medics.

Gilbert tumbled from the stage of Gloucester Guildhall last week during technical preparations ahead of his gig supporting Lee Mack.

He said: “The lighting crew was fiddling with the rig and I was blinded by the lights. 

“I walked straight off the end of the stage, and the floor just disappeared.  Next thing I knew I was lying on the floor of the main hall. I hit my head and was quite dazed for a few minutes. 

“The lighting crew and stewards heard the crash and could hear me groaning. I could just about see them looking round and trying to work out what had happened, but they couldn't see where I was as it was so dark.  It was quite weird watching them feeling their way round to find me.

“A few minutes later the audience was brought in and I came on stage and explained what had happened.  They didn't believe me ,I don't think.  It was quite a tough gig, and I hobbled off to get ice packs.

“The doctor sent me to hospital yesterday to check out pain around my ribs, but tests and X-rays showed that there were no broken ribs, and that damage was muscular and soft tissue. 

Published: 1 Mar 2005