PRESS ASSOCIATION -- Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet has been praised after helping rescue Sir Richard Branson's elderly mother from a blaze that ripped through the tycoon's luxury Caribbean home.
The Titanic star helped carry Sir Richard's 90-year-old mother Eve from The Great House on Necker Island after a fire broke out after it was hit by lightning during the middle of the night.
Both managed to escape unhurt from Monday's blaze along with Winslet's young children and a number of other guests, including the businessman's 29-year-old daughter Holly.
"Around 20 people were in the house and they all managed to get out and they are all fine," said Sir Richard who was staying in another property around 100 yards away with his wife, Joan, and son, Sam, 25.
"We had a tropical storm with winds up to 90mph. A big lightning storm came around 4am and hit the house.
"My son Sam and nephew Jack rushed to the house and helped get everyone out and many thanks to Kate Winslet for helping to carry my 90 year mum out of the main house to safety - she was wondering when a Director was going to shout cut!"
Sir Richard, 60, bought Necker Island in the early 1980s and began building the eight-bedroom Great House in 1982.
Winslet, 35, who won an Oscar for her role in the 2008 movie The Reader, has a daughter Mia, 10, from her first marriage to Jim Threapleton, and a son, Joe, seven, by second husband, director Sam Mendes, from whom she is separated.
The Great House was expected to be the venue for the marriage later this year of Holly Branson and shipbroker Freddie Andrews.