Billionaire Richard Branson is hailing Oscar winner Kate Winslet as a hero for saving his mom's life during a fire at his mansion in Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands on Aug. 22, 2011.
Branson recounts in his blog that his $70 million home on his private island went up in flames after being struck by lightning during Tropical Storm Irene. The Virgin Group CEO says Winslet, 35, was among 20 guests staying at his home when the blaze started.
Branson: Kate Carried My 90-Year-Old Mom
As the fire raged on, Kate carried Branson's 90-year-old mom from the house. Richard wrote:
We had a tropical storm with winds up to 90mph. A big lightning storm came around 4 am and hit the house. My son Sam and nephew Jack rushed to the house and helped get everyone out, and many thanks to Kate Winslet for helping to carry my 90 year old mum out of the main house to safety - she was wondering when a Director was going to shout CUT!
The main house is destroyed and the fire is not yet completely out. My office was based in the house and I have lost thousands of photographs and my notebooks which is very sad. But all family and friends are well - which in the end is all that really matters.
Branson later told reporters, "My mother's 90 years old and -- although she can walk -- in order to speed the process up, (Kate) picked my mother up and carried her out of the house, and so Kate helped rescue my mother."
Holly Branson to Wed in Necker Island This Winter
Richard, whose net worth tops $ billion, will renovate the fire-ravaged tropical-island property so his daughter, Holly, 29, can get married on Necker Island this winter as planned.
"We'll make sure that Necker Island is back and ready for her wedding, so we've got something to aim for at Christmas-time this year. Necker is our home and it will be a beautiful island again. We've just got to rebuild the Great House. Fortunately the rest of the island survived, and we'll make sure it was as beautiful as it was before."
Despite losing some family photos and a second autobiography he was working on, Richard says he's grateful no one was hurt. Branson writes:
"We will rebuild the house as soon as we can. We have a wonderful staff here and we want them to stay in work. We'll all stay here. There's a lot of damage but we’ll create something even more special out of the ruins.
Thanks again for all the kind messages you have sent - they mean a lot. Currently just huddled up with family and friends in the continuing tropical storm realising what really matters in life."
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