Sir Richard Branson has been involved in a serious bike accident. The British billionaire was cycling in the dark on Virgin Gorda, one of the British Virgin Islands, with his two children Holly and Sam, when he hit a bump in the road, and was thrown over his handlebars.
He has now revealed how he feared he was "going to die" in the incident, which occurred earlier this week and left him with a black eye and a large cut on his face.
Sir Richard Branson has involved in a serious bike accident this week
Writing in his blog on the Virgin website, the 66-year-old said: "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."
Sir Richard added that his shoulder and cheek took the brunt of the impact, and said he was thankfully wearing a helmet.
The 66-year-old was hurled over the top of his handlebars
"My bike went flying off the cliff and disappeared," he said. "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 realised I was alive, I began testing my movement. I really couldn't believe I was alive, let alone not paralysed."
Sir Richard said he feared he was "going to die"
The business magnate was taken to Miami where he underwent a series of x-rays and scans. He said he is hoping to pick up his training for the Virgin Strive Challenge again next month.
He added: "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."