Richard Branson left fearing for his life after bike crash

Sir Richard Branson, Virgin founder and Britain's best known businessman today said that he thought he was "going to die" after an horrific bike crash on Caribbean island Virgin Gorda this week.

Branson was cycling with his two children on the British Virgin Islands when he hit a hump in the road.

In a post on the Virgin website, the 66-year-old entrepreneur 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.

"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.

"We've since recovered the crumpled bicycle, completely destroyed. My cheek has been badly damaged and my knee, chin, shoulder and body severely cut."

He travelled to Miami for X-rays and scans, and later posted photographs online showing his bloodied face.

The accident happened on the fifth anniversary of a fire which destroyed his luxury home on Necker Island.