A fire early Monday morning destroyed the 8-room Great House at Virgin Group chairman Richard Branson’s exclusive Necker Island resort in the British Virgin Islands.
The resort features 28 rooms in seven buildings. Branson’s 90-year-old mother Eve Branson and famous English actress Kate Winslet were among those staying at the Great House and Winslet reportedly helped carry Eve out of the burning building.
“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!” Branson wrote on his blog about the incident. Photos of the fire are also available on the blog.
No injuries or deaths were reported. The fire’s exact cause is under investigation. The fire started at approximately 4 a.m. local time and is suspected to have been sparked by lightening as parts of the Hurricane Irene storm system hit the island with high winds and a thunderstorm.
Branson said he plans to rebuild the Great House as soon as possible ahead of his daughter’s planned wedding on Necker Island in December.
Below is a video made of the fire, posted on Branson’s blog and the YouTube website.