In pictures: Billionaire tycoon Richard Bransonġ980 – I stubbed my toe while walking around Necker Island and suddenly fell down a gaping gorge. My instructor died in an accident the next day. I cut the engine and managed to crash-land into a field. It was the first time I’d sat in it, I had no idea how to fly it and accidentally took off. We decided to jump off the boat and swim for shore, while the others stayed put – we were the only survivors.ġ976: Flew a microlight aircraft by mistake. Here are some of the highlights he wrote about on that list, in his own words:ġ972: Survived a fishing boat sinking on honeymoon with my first wife, Kristen, off Mexico. His second autobiography, “Finding My Virginity,” includes an appendix entitled “75 Close Shaves,” in which he details some of the instances when his life has been at risk.

The giant hot-air balloon, shown deflating in the Pacific Ocean off Hawaii, took off from Morocco December 18, travelled about 8,200 miles (13,120 kms) - about half the distance of its intended odyssey. Coast Guard helicopters head back to the Barbers Point Naval Station after rescuing multi-millionaire adventurers Richard Branson and Steve Fossett and pilot Per Lindstrand after they were forced to abort their latest round-the-world bid due to bad weather December 25.

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