Kate Winslet had to flee Sir Richard Branson's Caribbean home after a fire broke out at the property.

The 'Titanic' actress, her boyfriend Louis Dowler, and her two children - Mia, 10, and seven-year-old Joe - were among the 20 guests staying at the British businessman's house on his privately-owned Necker Island when the blaze broke out in the early hours of today (22.08.11) during a tropical storm.

Thanks to Richard's 25-year-old son Sam helped to evacuate all guests and nobody was hurt, although the eight-bedroom Great House on Necker was "completely destroyed".

Richard - who was not staying at the house at the time but was in a property 100 yards away with Sam, his wife, 90-year-old mother and 29-year-old daughter Holly - said: "Around 20 people were in the house and they all managed to get out and they are all fine.

"The main house is completely destroyed and the fire is not yet completely out. My office was based in the house and I have lost thousands of photographs which is very sad."

"We had a really bad tropical storm with winds up to 90mph. A big lightning storm came around 4am and hit the house. My son Sam rushed to the house and helped get everyone out. Kate Winslet, her boyfriend and her family were there and Holly and some of her friends were also staying. My mother was there and they managed to get her out and she is fine."

The 61-year-old tycoon added he plans to rebuild the property "as soon as we can".