keith richards falls out of palm tree

almaty · May 1, 2006

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.

On Monday, a basket of fruit — no coconut included — was delivered for the 62-year-old rocker but there was little other activity outside the hospital.

Richards' wife carried clothes and an overnight bag into the hospital Sunday afternoon.

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.

___