Richard Branson has shared a photo of his injuries after hitting a pothole and flying off his bike in Virgin Gorda.
The billionaire Virgin founder said he “took a hard fall” in the cycling accident but said he fortunately managed not to break any bones.
He revealed he suffered a hematoma on his hip and a ‘nasty cut on the elbow’ – and it’s not the first time he’s had a cycling accident.
In 2021, he flew off his bike and crashed on a hard concrete road in a ‘colossal’ cycling accident after his brakes failed while taking part in a charity race across the British Virgin Islands. And in 2016 he broke his cheek and tore several ligaments while riding in the Virgin Strive challenge in Leverick Bay.
Daredevil Branson posted a photo of the aftermath of his latest accident on Instagram, writing, “Took a bad fall while biking in Virgin Gorda a while ago!
‘I hit a pothole and had a hard crash, resulting in another hematoma on my hip and a nasty cut on the elbow, but amazingly nothing broke.
‘We were cycling with Alex Wilson, who fell behind me, but luckily he was fine too.
Richard Branson shared a photo of his injuries after a bicycle accident on Instagram
‘I consider myself very lucky and grateful that I have kept myself active and healthy.
“The brave may not live forever, but the prudent don’t live at all!”
More than a thousand followers sent him messages of support yesterday in response to the message on social media.
He was described as ‘brave’ and ‘great’ by his supporters as some warned him to be careful and passed on their get-well wishes.
This is not the first cycling hit Branson has had. In 2021, he suffered a ‘colossal’ cycling accident after his brakes failed while taking part in a charity race across the British Virgin Islands.
He flew off his bike and crashed on the hard concrete road on the island of Tortola.
At the time, he feared he had broken his back after colliding with another rider during day two of the Strive BVI event, which sees fitness fanatics complete a series of grueling challenges on water and land over the course of several days.
After the 2021 incident, he required treatment for severe cuts and bruises on his elbow, an “extremely large bump” on his hip and a “massive” hematoma on his leg.
British billionaire Sir Richard Branson suffered a ‘colossal’ cycling accident during a charity event in the British Virgin Islands in 2021 (Photo: Sir Richard gives a thumbs up as he gets into a van to be taken to hospital)
The Virgin founder said he needed treatment in 2021 for severe cuts and bruises on his elbow, an “extremely large bump” on his hip (pictured) and a “massive” hematoma on his leg.
The billionaire feared he had broken his back after colliding with another rider (photo moments after the 2021 collision)
In a blog post on his Virgin website, the father-of-three had said there was ‘no doubt’ that wearing a helmet had saved his life.
The entrepreneur had also shared photos of moments after the crash where he lay on his back next to fellow rider Felix Stellmaszek.
In another shot, the tycoon was seen smiling with a thumbs up while holding an ice pack as he boarded the van that took him to Virgin Gorda Hospital.
Meanwhile, other photos showed a huge, bloody lump on his left hip and a badly bruised and scratched arm from his torn cycling jersey.
And in 2016 he broke his cheek and tore several ligaments while riding in the Virgin Strive challenge in Leverick Bay.
He said at the time: ‘I was driving down a hill towards Leverick Bay when it suddenly got very dark and I managed to hit a ‘sleeping policeman’ bump in the road.
In 2016, Sir Richard broke his cheek and tore several ligaments while riding in the Virgin Strive challenge at Leverick Bay, forcing him to drink tea through a straw (pictured after the 2016 crash)
‘The next thing I knew I was thrown over the steering wheel and my life literally flashed before my eyes. I really thought I was going to die.
‘My head flew towards the concrete road, but luckily my shoulder and cheek were badly hit by the impact and I was wearing a helmet which saved my life.’
Sir Richard added that wearing a helmet saved his life, and his bike flew off the cliff.
He continued, “I honestly couldn’t believe I was alive, let alone that I wasn’t paralyzed.”
