Richard Branson Survives Brutal Bike Crash: ‘I Really Thought I Was Going to Die’

Richard Branson recently survived a bad bike accident in the British Virgin Islands, and on Friday he shared the story and photos online.

The billionaire Virgin Group founder was biking along a road several nights ago when he hit a bump that sent him flying face first off of his bike, he said. On Friday, Branson, 66, posted photos of himself after the crash, which left him with a bloodied face, cracked cheek, torn ligaments and severe cuts.

“I really thought I was going to die,” Branson wrote. “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.”

Branson was training for the Virgin Strive Challenge in September, where a group will make a month-long journey hiking, cycling, swimming and running through Italy for charity.