Clive Palmer, the leader of the United Australia Party, is recovering after a serious fall from a stage while preparing for his campaign launch event.

After slipping and landing hard while rehearsing the campaign launch at his Coolum resort on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast on Friday, the 68-year-old billionaire mining tycoon was left with a terrible cut on his head.

Mr. Palmer was instantly given first aid and sent to the hospital, where he was later released.

He told The Courier Mail on Saturday what caused him to tumble.

“Well I went to jump on the stage and I can’t high jump like I used to,” Mr. Palmer revealed.

“I hit it and ricocheted off the stage and hit my head … I was knocked out for about 20 seconds. Had a scan.

“I really do have a brain in there between my two ears.”

Mr. Palmer said the incident reminded him of his time playing sport in his younger years.

“It took me back to my old days when I played for Southport Tigers rugby league … when I came to, I looked around to see who’d tackled me,” he said.

Mr. Palmer spent Saturday resting before attending his official campaign launch.

The fall on Friday was Mr. Palmer’s second stumble in recent weeks.