TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands (CMC) — Sir Richard Branson, the 73-year-old billionaire founder of the Virgin Group, sustained serious injuries following a cycling accident on the island Virgin Gorda recently.

The incident occurred when Branson’s bicycle hit a pothole, causing him to lose control and fall.

“Took quite a big tumble while cycling in Virgin Gorda a little while ago! I hit a pothole and crashed hard, resulting in another haematoma on my hip and a nasty cut elbow, but amazingly nothing broken,” the billionaire said in a post on Facebook earlier this week.

Branson, who also owns Necker and Moskito islands in the BVI, said he fell just in front of another man he was cycling with, leaving both with injuries from the accident.

“I’m counting myself very lucky, and thankful for keeping myself active and healthy. After all, the brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all!”

This is not the first time the business mogul had a serious spill while cycling in the BVI. Branson was injured two years ago in similar fashion on Tortola when his brakes failed during a Strive BVI event — a challenge which involves water and land events to raise funds for charity.

In his budget speech last year, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley promised to improve the territory’s infrastructure significantly, disclosing that his government intends to spend millions of dollars on planned roadworks and other infrastructure projects.

“Our people deserve good infrastructure. There is simply no argument about that. The reality is that much of our infrastructure is aged,” the premier stated during his budget speech.