Oscar winner KATE WINSLET has narrowly escaped a fire that broke out at the Caribbean retreat of her pal Virgin Records CEO Richard Branson, star news has just learned. The blaze broke out during a tropical storm at around 4 am today, with lightning and strong winds fanning the flames that ultimately destroyed the eight-bedroom house on Branson’s private isle in the British Virgin Islands.
Kate and her children, Mia and Joe were on holiday at the retreat with about 20 of Branson’s other guests when tropical storm Irene battered the Virgin Islands, turning into a hurricane that blew 80mph winds that encouraged the fire, purportedly caused by lightning, to spread.
Fortunately, Kate and her kids were able to escape the blaze. Unfortunately, Branson’s home was completely destroyed, with the fire still not entirely out as of press time.
“We’ll all stay here for the time being,”
business magnate Richard Branson said of another guest house on his property.
“There’s a lot of damage and we won’t be able to stick it back together again right away.”
Image via WENN / AP Photo/Virgin Limited Edition/PA
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