Theatregoers were left in tears as 85-yea-old Sir Ian McKellen was rushed to hospital.
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED?
The acting legend suffered a fall and cried out in agony as he tripped over props and plunged off the stage during a West End performance last night.
Audience members explained that McKellen tumbled off the front of the stage in a ‘belly flop fashion’ and yelled ‘help me… my arms’ just before the interval of Player Kings at the Noël Coward theatre in London.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
The crowd were soon evacuated from the theatre at around 8pm while medics were called to the venue – and ticket holders were told the evening show had been cancelled.
Representatives for the production confirmed that Sir Ian ‘will make a speedy and full recovery’ and is in ‘good spirits’ – but Tuesday night’s performance has also been cancelled so he can rest.
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Sir Ian – who plays John Falstaff in the play – was circling a battle scene involving the Prince of Wales and Henry Percy, when he tripped and fell off the stage.
As the house lights came up, the actor best known for his portrayals of Gandalf in the Lord Of The Rings franchise and Magneto in X-Men, cried out in pain as ushers and two medics in the audience rushed to help him.
‘Instantly he screamed and honestly the noises were bone-chilling,’ a source said – as he recalled Sir Ian yelling ‘help me, help me’ followed by ‘my arms, my arms’ and ‘help me, help me’ again.
