British actor Benedict Cumberbatch has been hailed a hero for chasing away four assailants as they mugged a cyclist in London.
Cumberbatch is known for his portrayal of fictional crime-fighter Sherlock Holmes and superhero Doctor Strange in the Marvel movies.
Cumberbatch, 41, jumped out of his taxi and ran to the aid of the man working for a food delivery company as he was set upon by the muggers, the Sun newspaper reported.
Cumberbatch’s Uber driver Manuel Dias told the Sun: “The cyclist was lucky, Benedict’s a superhero. Benedict was courageous, brave and selfless. If he hadn’t stepped in, the cyclist could have been seriously injured.”
The attempted robbery took place on Marylebone High Street, just around the corner from Holmes’ fictional home on Baker Street.
“One of the males attempted to grab the victim’s cycle. He was then punched in the face, struck on the head and hit with his helmet,” the Metropolitan Police said in a statement, adding that the incident took place in November last year.
“Nothing was reported stolen. The victim did not require hospital treatment. No arrests have been made,” the statement added.
Dias said the actor ran up to the assailants and pulled them away, shouting “leave him alone” before they fled.
Cumberbatch told the Sun he was not a hero. “I did it out of, well, I had to, you know,” he was quoted as saying.
