英國超級富豪、維珍航空老闆布蘭信（Richard Branson）在網誌上透露，他日前在英屬維爾京群島練習單車時「炒車」，頭部首先落地，幸好戴上頭盔保住一命。他事後大呼好彩，「我不能相信自己竟然未死」。
「頭盔救了我一命」
事發當日，布蘭信與兩名子女在戈爾達島為下月舉行的「維珍奮鬥挑戰賽」（Vrigin Strive Challenge）進行訓練，從山上俯衝落斜衝時，撞到地上的減速壆，「我整個人被拋起至飛過手柄，一生在眼前閃過」。他的頭部直撞石屎地上，幸好肩膊及胸口抵擋了部份衝力，「我真的以為我會死……我當時戴着頭盔，救了我一命」。
布蘭信的膝蓋、下巴及肩膀等多處嚴重擦傷，他躺在地上嘗試郁動，但很快恢復幽默本色，向首先到場的助手笑說：「我還活着！你仍可以保住工作！」而他所踩的單車就直墮懸崖，一度不知所終，其後殘骸已被發現。他被送到美國邁阿密接受X光檢查，仍希望能完成下月舉行的比賽，又謂受傷後最難捱的「是用吸管飲茶，還被一個6歲小孩喚作大笨象人」。
英國《太陽報》
2016年08月27日
http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/international/art/20160827/19750983
My life flashed before my eyes
https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/my-life-flashed-my-eyes
I was heading down a hill towards Leverick Bay when it suddenly got really dark and I managed to hit a ‘sleeping policeman’ hump in the road head on. 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. I went flying head-first towards the concrete road, but fortunately my shoulder and cheek took the brunt of the impact, and I was wearing a helmet that saved my life (however, perhaps they should build bike helmets that protect the side of the face too - does anyone know of one?). My bike went flying off the cliff and disappeared. We’ve since recovered the crumpled bicycle, completely destroyed. My cheek has been badly damaged and my knee, chin, shoulder and body severely cut.
As I landed, once I realised I was alive, I began testing my movement. I really couldn't believe I was alive, let alone not paralysed.
***
倖存英漢：過去一生閃過眼前
英國遊客Michael Rennie大難不死，他向醫生說在生死一刻，「我過去一生閃過眼前。」醫生都認為他的生還是一個奇蹟。Rennie事後曾致電給外父，對妻子去世感到抱歉，更哭不成聲。其外父認為錯不在他，是女兒拉他去坐熱氣球。據悉，Rennie與妻子當時可能為了平衡吊籃的重量，而分開站在籃內，故不能第一時間帶著妻子逃生。目擊者指，他跳落地面後，看著熱氣球升上天空，追著它走了200米，希望救妻子，可惜只能眼白白看著妻子與其他遊客燒死。
2013年03月01日
http://www.am730.com.hk/article-144403
Egypt balloon crash: survivor's life flashed before his eyes
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, doctors at Cairo's Nasser Institute hospital claim the father of two, who jumped 20ft from the balloon when a pipe from gas tanks set it alight, told doctors "My life flashed in front of my eyes."
Dr Sameh Elashmawy, director of the hospital, added that it was a "miracle" Mr Rennie survived, saying he "doesn't have a scratch on him", but he is "upset from losing his wife."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/9899190/Egypt-balloon-crash-survivors-life-flashed-before-his-eyes.html
