Branson: Winslet saved my mom from fire

Video: Winslet saves Branson’s mom from blaze

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   >>> now to a dramatic rescue tied to hurricane irene , lightning from the storm is being blamed for a massive fire that ripped through the luxury caribbean home of sir richard branson . natalie has details. good morning.

   >> good morning again, carl. richard branson said what happened to his home is straight out of a movie but the flames were real. this morning he's praising an oscar-winning actress who was there to perform a daring rescue. the raging flames tore through the luxurious compound early monday as richard branson and 20 guests were sleeping.

   >> it took hold incredibly quickly. we woke up just to see gigantic 100-foot flames in the sky. it ripped through the house unbelievably quickly.

   >> reporter: branson 's 25-year-old son sam heard explosions in the main house , sounded the alarm and ran over to help.

   >> it was terrifying to me because my daughter and nephews, nieces, friends were all staying in the house . i just ran naked towards the house to try to see if i could make sure i could get people out.

   >> reporter: inside the burning home branson 's 90-year-old mother eve, oscar winning actress kate winslet who sprang into action for a daring rescue.

   >> she was staying there with her children. she had staying at the house with my mother. she said it was like being in the film waiting for the words cut but they just don't come.

   >> reporter: everyone made it out okay but the largest home on the private and exclusive island known as the great house was destroyed. monday afternoon branson tweeted, thank you all for your kind messages. currently just huddled up with family and friends in the continuing tropical storm realizing what really matters in life. branson is the chairman of the virgin group which includes virgin atlantic airways and virgin mega stores . he's owned the island paradise in the caribbean for more than 30 years.

   >> this is a place where the rich and the famous come to enjoy themselves.

   >> reporter: matt got his own private tour of the island in 2004 from richard branson himself. these 74-acre island retreat costs $10 million to build, six homes make up the estate which can be rented for $54,000 a night. it's been a vacation getaway for celebrities like oprah winfrey , johnny depp , robert de niro , and jimmy fallon . nick lachey and vanessa got married on the island last month. sir branson and his family, it's their own private paradise. but now it's damaged beyond repair. richard branson says he's going to rebuild. and branson says his office was based in the house , so he lost thousands of photographs and notebooks. his daughter holly was planning to get married there later this year. and, carl, as for kate winslet , apparently, like being on a film set waiting for the director to yell the words cut and that never came.

   >> safe to say they were very, very lucky.

   >> very lucky. no one injured.

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