Founder of Virgin Group Sir Richard Branson escaped death after
crashing his bike close to a cliff edge on Caribbean island Virgin
Gorda. The 66-year-old business magnate
said he was fortunate to have suffered only a cracked cheek and torn
ligaments. Dramatic photos from the accident shows him all bloodied and
bruised while receiving emergency treatment at the scene.
In a post on the Virgin website, entitled 'My life flashed before my eyes', he said he was cycling down a hill when he hit a speed bump and was hurled over the handlebars.
"A
couple of nights ago I went cycling on Virgin Gorda with Holly and Sam
as part of my training for the Virgin Strive Challenge. I was heading
down a hill towards Leverick Bay when it suddenly got
really dark and I managed to hit a ‘sleeping policeman’ hump in the road
head on. The next thing I knew, I was being hurled over the handlebars
and my life was literally flashing before my eyes
"I really thought I was going to die. I went flying head-first towards the
concrete road, but fortunately my shoulder and cheek took the brunt of
the impact, and I was wearing a helmet that saved my life (however,
perhaps they should build bike helmets that protect the side of the face
too - does anyone know of one?). My bike went flying off the cliff and
disappeared. We’ve since recovered the crumpled bicycle, completely
destroyed. My cheek has been badly damaged and my knee, chin, shoulder
and body severely cut
"As
I landed, once I realized I was alive, I began testing my movement. I
really couldn't believe I was alive, let alone not paralyzed.
Coincidentally, the first person to arrive on the scene was my assistant
Helen, who had just returned from holiday. She was wondering who was
lying prostrate on the road. I was so glad to be alive that I quickly
was able to summon my sense of humor, and said to her: “I’m alive! At
least you’ve still got a job!
"George, one of the team, sprinted from the bottom of the hill and the
team soon got me back home and patched up. I traveled to Miami for
x-rays and scans, but have been extremely fortunate that apart from a
cracked cheek and some torn ligaments I hopefully will be able to
complete the Virgin Strive Challenge next month. My biggest hardship is
having to drink tea out of a straw. Oh, and being called elephant man by
a six year old!
"My
attitude has always been, if you fall flat on your face, at least
you’re moving forward. All you have to do is get back up and try again.
At least I’m practicing what I preach – though a little too literally!
the date of the accident just happened to be the fifth anniversary of
the fire on Necker Island. What a way to mark it! Thankfully, good
fortune has smiled on me so far. It has been quite a year, I’ve been in
the wars knocking my teeth out playing tennis not once but twice, and
also being kissed by a ray and running into a bullet proof door.
"Over the years I’ve had many brushes
with death, not least in my ballooning adventures. In the documentary
Don’t Look Down, which we’re releasing soon, my co-pilot Per Lindstrand
quotes Napoleon: “I know he's a good general, but is he lucky?” He says I
have certainly been lucky – I wouldn’t disagree!
"Today my son Sam mentioned another fitting quote, from Hunter S.
Thompson: “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention
of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to
skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn
out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!"
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