'Thought I was going to die,' says billionaire Richard Branson after surviving near-death crash

British billionaire businessman Richard Branson on Friday survived a serious accident as he crashed head-first while cycling during a high-speed bicycle training run in the British Virgin Islands.

Although the owner of the $5.3 billion UK-based media company, Virgin, said that he thought he was about to die, the accident was not exactly a near-death one. Branson suffered a cracked cheek and torn ligaments. He was taken to Miami for X-rays and scans soon after the accident.

The 66-year-old billionaire said that the accident occurred when he was cycling downhill during a training run and hit a "sleeping policeman" hump on the road, which sent him crashing into the ground head-first.

"The next thing I knew, I was being hurled over the handlebars and my life was literally flashing before my eyes. I really thought I was going to die," Branson said. 

Branson also added that his life was saved because of the helmet he was wearing. Reports state that his bicycle went flying off a cliff .

"My attitude has always been, if you fall flat on your face, at least you're moving forward. All you have to do is get back up and try again," Branson said. 

The billionaire has reported several injuries recently. Branson was bit by a shark six months back while he was swimming in the Cayman Islands. He also smashed his head into a glass door during the same trip. He also got his teeth knocked out while playing tennis last year, the Daily Mail reported.

Branson was also involved in a spat with the UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn after the party chief claimed that he had to sit on the floor of a Virgin train because there were no seats available. However, Virgin Trains released a CCTV footage showing Corbyn walked past "empty seats" before sitting on the floor of the train.