Picture the scene... you're nestled in your eight bedroom mansion on your own private Caribbean island. You, your family, including your 90-year-old mother, and Oscar-winning Hollywood A-lister Kate Winslet are all tucked up in bed with their respective others, while a tropical storm wails outside. Then your gaff's hit by lightning and burns to the ground. What a pisser.

Writing on his website about the incident, which took place at 4am in the morning, Sir Richard Branson said: "My son Sam and nephew Jack rushed to the house and helped get everyone out and many thanks to Kate Winslet for helping to carry my 90-year-old mum (Eve) out of the main house to safety, wondering when a Director was going to shout CUT!"

She's a trooper that Winslet. In reality, she was probably quietly patting Eve down as they walked, trying to see if the nonagenarian had a spare 'Heart of the Ocean' about her person, you know, to fund the cinematic reimagining of the lightning ordeal that Kate will produce/direct/star in.

Branson continues: "Around 20 people were in the house and they all managed to get out and they are all fine. We had a really bad tropical storm with winds up to 90mph. A big lightning storm came around 4am and hit the house. The main house is completely destroyed and the fire is not yet completely out. My office was based in the house and I have lost thousands of photographs and my note books which is very sad. But all family and friends are well - which in the end is all that really matters... It's very much the Dunkirk Spirit here. We want to rebuild the house as soon as we can. We have a wonderful staff here and we want them to stay in work. We'll all stay here for the time being. There's a lot of damage and we won't be able to stick it back together again right away. It was a beautiful house. There's a lot of damage but we'll create something even more special out of the ruins. Thanks again for all the kind messages you have sent - they mean a lot. Currently just huddled up with family and friends in the continuing tropical storm realising what really matters in life."

Indeed, your loved ones all safe and accounted for is the most important thing in life. And a good wifi connection.