Multi-billionaire
business tycoon and owner of Virgin Airline, Richard Branson, has
narrated his near-death experience on a training cycle run with his two
grown up children when disaster struck which nearly took his life. Read
below;
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 realised I was alive, I began testing my
movement. I really couldn’t believe I was alive, let alone not
paralysed. 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 humour, 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 travelled 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!”
Article written by Richard Branson and published on Virgin.com
Post a Comment