Richard Branson hurt while bicycling in British Virgin Islands

Virgin Group founder and CEO Richard Branson was injured when he crashed his bicycle while cycling at night.

The British billionaire said in a blog post that he hit a speed bump while going downhill on Virgin Gorda, one of the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean.

"The next thing I knew, I was being hurled over the handlebars and my life was literally flashing before my eyes," he wrote.

"I really thought I was going to die. 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," he said.

"My bike went flying off the cliff and disappeared. We've since recovered the crumpled bicycle, completely destroyed. My cheek has been badly damaged and my knee, chin, shoulder and body severely cut," he said.

Branson said he has a cracked cheek bone and some torn ligaments, and currently has to drink hot liquids like tea out of a straw due to swelling.

All of his injuries are expected to heal and he said he expects to be back to his famously active lifestyle soon.

"My attitude has always been, if you fall flat on your face, at least you're moving forward. All you have to do is get back up and try again. At least I'm practising what I preach though a little too literally!"