- Tycoon credits son Sam with rescuing 90-year-old mother and sister
- Sir Richard calls for 'Dunkirk spirit' after island battered by Hurricane Irene
- Branson thanks Oscar winner Winslet for helping carry his mother to safety
Last updated at 10:00 PM on 22nd August 2011
Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet was among guests forced to flee after a fire sparked by a lightning strike swept through Richard Branson's opulent home on the tycoon's private Caribbean island.
Sir Richard said about 20 people were staying in the eight-bedroom Great House on Necker, his private isle in the British Virgin Islands. The fire is still raging in the building.
Sir Richard's daughter, Holly, who is due to marry shipbroker Freddie Andrews on the island later this year, and his 90-year-old mother, Eve, were also among guests forced to flee the Great House.
Blaze: Guests watch helplessly as the home of Richard Branson burns on his private Necker Island
Inferno: Fire rages at the luxury property but thankfully all guests managed to flee to safety
Devastation: Sir Richard said about 20 people, including Kate Winslet, were staying in the eight-bedroom Great House on Necker, his private isle in the British Virgin Islands
Hero of the hour: Actress Kate Winslet, left, and her young children were among the guests rescued by Sir Richard's son Sam, right, after the fire broke out on Necker Island
'Completely destroyed': Sir Richard says his son, Sam, helped to evacuate some guests from the house
He said the fire broke out during a storm, and Sam managed to help evacuate Winslet and other guests.
The house was 'completely destroyed', he added, and the fire was not yet entirely extinguished this morning.
In recent days, the Caribbean has been buffeted by tropical storms, with the one passing over Necker Island last night today picking up speed to become the first hurricane of the season.
This morning Hurricane Irene hit Puerto Rico, sending residents fleeing for shelter in refuges and knocking out electricity across half of the U.S.-administered island, including San Juan, the capital
From his devastated home on Necker Island, Sir Richard said: 'We had a really bad tropical storm with winds up to 90mph. A big lightning storm came around 4am and hit the house.
'My son Sam rushed to the house and helped get everyone out.
'Kate Winslet, her boyfriend and her family were there, and Holly and some of her friends were also staying.
'Many thanks to Kate Winslet for helping to carry my 90 year mum out of the main house to safety – she was wondering when a Director was going to shout CUT!
'But all family and friends are well - which in the end is all that really matters.'
Destroyed: Richard Branson's luxury home was hit by lightning last night during tropical storms in the Caribbean
Idyllic: Sir Richard says the fire, which broke out during a storm, has devastated the property
Airy: The living room of the Great House on Necker Island
Spacious: One of the eight bedrooms in the Virgin tycoon's luxury property
Necker Island is a private isle which Branson has owned since the eary Eighties, the locator map, right, shows its location in the warm, clear waters of the Caribbean sea
Sir Richard added: 'It's very much the Dunkirk spirit here. We want to rebuild the house as soon as we can. 'We have a wonderful staff here and we want them to stay in work. There's a lot of damage but we’ll create something even more special out of the ruins.
A PLAYGROUND IN PARADISE
When Richard Branson first viewed the rocky outcrop that was Necker in 1978, it was love at first sight.
Initially he planned to buy it in order to create a luxury Caribbean outpost for the rock royalty signed to his Virgin record label.
But it soon became a second home for the British tycoon and his family – and anyone else wanting to stay for a mere £1,115 a night.
Over the years it has attracted an A list crowd – including Princess Diana who used to holiday with her young sons, Princes William and Harry. Holly Branson also whisked Kate Middleton away there during her brief split from William.
Other famous figures who have stayed at the resort include Janet Jackson, Harrison Ford, Mariah Carey, Eddie Murphy and Oprah Winfrey.
Part of the British Virgin Islands, Necker was named after the 17th century Dutch squadron commander Johannes de Neckere, although it remained uninhabited until the late 20th century.
After making a lowball bid of just £100,000 for the £5 million-valued island, 28-year-old Branson was turned down - and promptly evicted. But in 1979 he managed to buy it for the cut-price sum of £180,000 as its owner, Lord Cobham, was badly in need of short-term capital.
When he bought the 74-acre island it was a forlorn little rock, albeit in a pretty spectacular part of the world.
Built in ‘Balinese-style’, the main house is situated on the crown of a hill overlooking one of the islands most stunning beaches.
But it affords other stunning views of Necker’s 74 acres, surrounded as it is by beautiful turquoise waters, coral reefs and white sandy beaches.
Inside, it is – or should we say, was - filled with Brazilian hardwoods, antiques, art pieces, hand-made fabrics and bamboo furniture.
Guests are encouraged to share the island ‘house party’ style – with the Great House boasting casino nights, fancy dress parties, BBQs on the beach and gala dinners.
And the more famous you are, the less likely you are to have to pay – as generous Sir Richard likes to use his personal fiefdom to display his personal largesse.
Initially he planned to buy it in order to create a luxury Caribbean outpost for the rock royalty signed to his Virgin record label.
But it soon became a second home for the British tycoon and his family – and anyone else wanting to stay for a mere £1,115 a night.
Over the years it has attracted an A list crowd – including Princess Diana who used to holiday with her young sons, Princes William and Harry. Holly Branson also whisked Kate Middleton away there during her brief split from William.
Other famous figures who have stayed at the resort include Janet Jackson, Harrison Ford, Mariah Carey, Eddie Murphy and Oprah Winfrey.
Part of the British Virgin Islands, Necker was named after the 17th century Dutch squadron commander Johannes de Neckere, although it remained uninhabited until the late 20th century.
After making a lowball bid of just £100,000 for the £5 million-valued island, 28-year-old Branson was turned down - and promptly evicted. But in 1979 he managed to buy it for the cut-price sum of £180,000 as its owner, Lord Cobham, was badly in need of short-term capital.
When he bought the 74-acre island it was a forlorn little rock, albeit in a pretty spectacular part of the world.
Built in ‘Balinese-style’, the main house is situated on the crown of a hill overlooking one of the islands most stunning beaches.
But it affords other stunning views of Necker’s 74 acres, surrounded as it is by beautiful turquoise waters, coral reefs and white sandy beaches.
Inside, it is – or should we say, was - filled with Brazilian hardwoods, antiques, art pieces, hand-made fabrics and bamboo furniture.
Guests are encouraged to share the island ‘house party’ style – with the Great House boasting casino nights, fancy dress parties, BBQs on the beach and gala dinners.
And the more famous you are, the less likely you are to have to pay – as generous Sir Richard likes to use his personal fiefdom to display his personal largesse.
'Currently just huddled up with family and friends in the continuing tropical storm realising what really matters in life.'
A spokesman for Virgin said today: 'In the early hours of this morning, a fire took place on Necker Island, causing substantial damage to the Great House.
'While the cause at this stage is unknown, it is thought most likely due to a lightning strike.
'While substantial damage was caused to the building, no guests or members of the Necker Island staff were hurt.'
The spokesman went on: 'Sir Richard Branson, members of his family and guests were on the island at the time.
'They are all safe and currently being accommodated elsewhere on the island.'
Part of the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean, Necker is a private island owned by Sir Richard.
He bought the island in the early 1980s, when he was just 28, and work on the Great House began in 1982.
It took three years and an estimated $10million to turn it into a private island retreat. Last year, Sir Richard gave Oprah Winfrey show presenter Nate Berkus a tour of island.
He told the presenter the motivation behind buying the island was the pursuit of his wife, Joan.
'I was about 26-years-old, I was chasing this beautiful lady, trying to persuade her to come live with me and we discovered this beautiful island,' he said.
'I somehow managed to get the island, get the lady and get the mother of my children.'
He added: 'I appreciate every moment of my life. I was born under a lucky star.'
Affording great views, the Necker Island complex is used by the Branson family as well as friends, and can also be hired - but at great cost.
The island has accommodation for 28 people and rents out at $53,000 to $54,000 a day.
The handsome price includes two private beaches, private pools, tennis courts, breathtaking views, a personal chef, a team of about 60 staff and a wide array of water sports equipment.
Each of the bedrooms has its own balcony, four-poster bed and en-suite bathroom.
All have open walls giving a 360-degree view and cooling winds from any direction in the house.
Tropical paradise: Sir Richard's daughter Holly was due to get married on the island later this year
This satellite image obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows Hurricane Irene moving directly across Necker Island, towards Puerto Rico
In this satellite image provided today by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Irene reaches hurricane strength as it moves across Puerto Rico towards Hispaniola
Family of adventurers: Sir Richard Branson with his family, left to right, Sam Branson, Ivo Branson and Holly Branson before his attempt to kitesurf across the English Channel at Dungeness, Kent
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