Richard Branson 'bitten by a shark' in the Cayman Islands

Sir Richard Branson has told how he was "bitten by a shark" while swimming in the Cayman Islands and later ended up with three stitches above his left eye when he walked into a glass door while shopping.

The Virgin boss was referring to being bitten by a stingray while feeding the creatures at Stingray City Sandbar. Writing on his Virgin.com blog, he said: "We were surrounded by stingray, as well as stunning coral reefs and tropical fish.

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"But the rays were feeding all around, and they mistook yours truly for their food. Suddenly I felt a painful sensation on my wrist – they have one heck of a painful kiss! Rays are actually part of the shark family, so I've now been kissed by a shark."

The 65-year-old was on Grand Cayman where he discussed ocean conservation and the need for sustainable marine environments, including protecting stingrays.

Branson added that later he was out shopping for his wife Joan when he walked into a glass door.

He said: "As my anniversary was coming up, I popped into a local jewellery shop to look for a gift for Joan. I strolled purposefully into the shop, not noticing there was a glass door in my way. Crash!

"I hit the glass head first and I got this painful cut above my left eye. It was bullet-proof glass! We quickly set up a makeshift operating theatre, where I was given three stitches."

After taking part in a tennis tournament with the likes of Anna Kournikova and Mansour Bahrami, Sir Richard said: "It certainly made me forget all about my injuries, and I'm well on the road to recovery now."