(CBS News)
Virgin Group CEO Richard Branson's $70 million home was struck by
lightning and destroyed by the resulting fire Monday as Irene, then a tropical
storm, barreled through the Caribbean and over his private island, the
billionaire says.
And, reports CBS News Correspondent Elaine Quijano,
Kate Winslet emerged a hero.
Branson says the Oscar-winning actress carried his
mother from the house while it was still ablaze.
She was among 20 guests in the house, which is one
of the most famous vacation homes in the world and was often rented by the rich
and famous and seen in photos. Just last month, Nick Lachey and Vanessa Manillo
were married there.
"I was on the island," Branson told CBS
News. "I was woken up with people screaming. I was in the house right next
door to the Great House (about 10 yards away)and looked over, saw the whole
house engulfed in flames, and just ran stark naked to the house to try to get
people out. I had my daughter, my mother, lots of nephews and nieces. ...
Obviously, the first priority was to rescue everybody, and fortunately,
everybody got rescued."
Branson said, "My mother's 90 years old and,
in order -- although she can walk -- in order to speed the process up,
(Winslet) picked my mother up and carried her, carried her out of the house,
and so Kate helped rescue my mother."
His 29-year old daughter, Holly, was planning to
tie the knot on Necker Island this winter.
Despite the destruction, Branson says, he still
hopes to play host.
"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."
Branson told CBS News that, while many photos were
destroyed in the fire, as well as a second autobiography he was working on, the
most important thing is that his family and friends are OK.
It was not in the movie. Nobody said
action or cut but her act of bravery had save a life of 90 years old mother of
millionaire Sir Richard Branson. According to Sir Richard, courageous Miss Winslet
acted like a true Hollywood heroine as she swept his mother Eve into her arms
and helped carry her to safety as the mansion crumbled around them. Read report
from Daily Mail here.
Branson luxury house was destroyed but all
the people inside it are saved.
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