Rolling Stones' Keith Richards slips out of New Zealand

Music News

May 2, 2006, 7:59 GMT

Wellington - If Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards ever was in a New Zealand hospital after falling out of a palm tree while holidaying in Fiji, he slipped out of the country on Tuesday, according to a news report. All reporters and photographers saw during a five-day stake-out at the Mercy-Ascot Hospital in Auckland, where the 62-year-old rocker was reported to have been taken on April 27 after a 3-1/2 hour mercy flight from Fiji, was someone carrying in three guitars. Photographers and fans were there throughout, drawing scorn from at least one middle-aged woman reported by the New Zealand Herald who sniffed, 'If it was Elvis, I could understand it, but not that tired old codger.' The hospital, where Richards was said to be receiving treatment for concussion, maintained a neither confirm nor deny policy, although the Herald said it had word that he had 27 security guards on his floor and four bodyguards in his room. It said a fruit basket with 'Keith Richards' on it - but no coconuts - had been spotted being delivered and his wife, former fashion model Patti Hansen, was said to be at his bedside, but she never appeared with a medical report. The drama ended when the TV3 network admitted in its main news bulletin Tuesday night that it had failed to get any pictures of Richards, and reported, 'He managed to give everyone the slip. This afternoon a spokesman confirmed he'd left the country.' All fans were left with was Monday's report in Wellington's Dominion Post that Richards had fallen five metres from a tree at the exclusive Wakaya Club resort on a Fijian island after drinking vodka all day and rum at night with fellow Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood. © 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

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Danny WalkerMay 2nd, 2006 - 15:40:47

Keith Richards has taken a turn for the worse as he awoke at the hospital and exhibited moments of clarity and lucid thought. He tried to engage his Doctor in a conversation about the unified field theroy and expressed a desire to write a children's book. His doctors have given hime 17 minutes to live.

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genieMay 6th, 2006 - 04:24:19

Sorry to hear that. I hope that he improves and can remember his guitar music but why would he be drinking vodka ll day when he has to eat. Why isn't he trying to eat organic food, no red meat, no alcohol and organic juice and home grown vegetables. How ritzy to give up such necessary things to be a bummmed out star. Let's see a change and thank God that he is okay.

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As tears go byMay 8th, 2006 - 23:53:07

I do not believe that at all

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As tears go byMay 8th, 2006 - 23:53:57

I do not believe that at all, all reporsts say he is fine

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