Richard Branson has near-miss despite seeing clearly

Despite reportedly being more than content with recent laser eye surgery that has left him seeing “perfectly”, Sir Richard Branson was a sight for sore eyes after a close encounter with a sea predator.

According to an article published in The Daily Telegraph (August 4th), the 61-year-old British entrepreneur mistakenly swam right into the open gnashers of a whale shark while on his travels.

“I was swimming around one of these gentle giants off Cancun in Mexico – and then, suddenly, I realised I had managed to get myself right inside it,” the newspaper quotes Sir Branson as saying.

“Whales sharks have got enormous mouths and this one just literally puffed me out. They are gigantic, but gentle. I think the story of Jonah most likely came from a whale shark. I can’t really think of anything else living in the sea that could swallow you without also killing you.”

The Virgin boss is one of many high-profile British celebrities to have undergone laser eye surgery. In particular he joins other sports enthusiasts including Sir Steve Redgrave. The 49-year-old rower, who won gold medals at five consecutive Olympic games underwent Ultralase Corrective Eye Surgery and now works as an ambassador for the brand. Fellow Olympian Jonathan Edwards has also undergone laser eye treatment, emphasising the importance of sight for athletes who wish to be at the top of their game.