Richard Branson injures cheek after running into window at New York hotel

Sir Richard Branson sustained a facial cut after running face first into a window at a New York City hotel this week. The Virgin Group founder, 75, posted pictures of his bleeding cheek on Instagram and kept a light tone about the mishap, noting that he had been eager to speak with a team member when he sprinted to catch up and collided with the glass, leaving a mark on the window as well as on his face.

Branson said the episode happened during a dinner with the Planetary Gardens team and Virgin Hotels NYC staff to discuss sustainable farming innovations by Holganix. He said a colleague, Elizabeth, reacted quickly to stop him from falling, and the group had a laugh about it the next day. He added a lighthearted line: 'Did you hear about the guy who ran into a window? He was in a lot of pane...This week, that guy was yours truly.'

The incident comes as Branson has faced attention for matters on his private Caribbean island. Weeks earlier, a talented chef who worked on Necker Island was killed after an electric buggy crash on the property. Sihle Somdaka, 37, reportedly lost control of the vehicle while driving down a steep hillside late Friday night. Emergency responders from Moskito Island and a doctor rushed to the scene and Somdaka was transported by boat to Peebles Hospital on Tortola, where he was later pronounced dead from a head injury. Police in the British Virgin Islands opened a full investigation into the circumstances, with island staff and local authorities coordinating to determine what happened.

Virgin Limited Edition, Branson’s hospitality arm, confirmed the death in a statement, saying that it was deeply saddened and that the organization was supporting Somdaka’s family and colleagues during the difficult time. A spokesperson said: 'It is with deepest sadness that we can confirm that one of our Necker Island team members has sadly passed away. They were a hugely talented and exceptional member of the Necker Island family, and we are all devastated by this news. Our utmost priority is the wellbeing of their family and friends, and that of our team, and we are doing everything we can to support them all during this very difficult time.'

An unnamed insider cited in The Sun attributed the tragedy to a broader 'culture of excess' on Necker Island, saying there had been close shaves and near misses over the years. The source noted Branson wasn’t on the island at the time but had remained in close contact with the family and the Necker Island team. Somdaka, originally from Cape Town, had built a reputation across global dining scenes and had posted vacation photos from the island in the days before his death. The fatality has prompted continued inquiries by local authorities as the community processes the loss and the ongoing investigations unfold.