Sir Richard Branson has been left “deeply saddened” after government sous chef Sihle Somdaka died in a buggy crash on his Caribbean retreat Necker Island.
Sir Richard Branson has been left ‘deeply saddened’ after government sous chef Sihle Somdaka died in a buggy crash on his Caribbean retreat Necker Island
The 75-year-old entrepreneur was not on the island on the time of the incident however has been in shut contact with workers and the chef’s household, in keeping with stories.
Sihle, aged 37 and initially from Cape City, South Africa, was discovered fatally injured late on Friday (29.08.25) after apparently dropping management of an electrical buggy shortly after leaving a farewell get together on the island’s Nice Home.
A supply instructed The Solar: “Sir Richard wasn’t on the island when the incident occurred however has been in shut contact with the household and the Necker Island workforce.”
They added the billionaire was “deeply saddened” by the tragedy.
The crash passed off simply earlier than midnight, as Sihle drove down a steep hillside in one of many resort’s buggies.
Island medics tried CPR earlier than a health care provider was flown in from neighbouring Moskito Island.
He was then transported by boat to Peebles Hospital on Tortola, the place he was pronounced lifeless from a head harm.
Police within the British Virgin Islands have launched a full investigation into the circumstances of the crash. A supply instructed The Solar workers on Necker Island are working intently with native authorities to determine what occurred.
One other insider alleged there had been “a tradition of extra” on the luxurious resort.
They mentioned: “They’ve had very many shut shaves and close to misses through the years… it was solely a matter of time, however it ought to by no means have occurred.”
Sihle was described as a rising star within the culinary world.
The daddy-of-two had labored in high-end eating places throughout the Center East, together with in Doha and Kuwait, earlier than securing a place on Branson’s £95,000-a-night non-public island.
Days earlier than his demise, Sihle shared photos on social media of himself having fun with the seashores and jet skis at Necker Island, captioning one {photograph}: “Caribbean life.”
