Benedict Cumberbatch in a still from Sherlock
Looks like Benedict Cumberbatch is not only brave onscreen but he is a real-life superhero as well. Going by the word of the Uber driver who was riding the Sherlock actor, the man was nothing less than heroic. Benedict Cumberbatch jumped out of his taxi and chased down four would-be thieves.
The Sun reported the November incident after Uber driver Manuel Dias came forward. He told the paper that he did not recognize the actor at first, but after the assailants smashed a bottle on the victim's head, it dawned on him and Cumberbatch ran toward them yelling: "Leave him alone."
Dias also revealed that the incident happened just a few blocks away from Holmes' fictional London home. "It was only then I recognized Benedict. Then it all got a bit surreal. Here was Sherlock Holmes fighting off four attackers just around the corner from Baker Street."
(Also read: Twitter reacts to Benedict Cumberbatch's call for equal pay for female co-stars)
The Sun also reported him saying, "He seemed to know exactly what he was doing. He was very brave. He did most of it, to be honest . . . He wasn't injured. Then I think they also recognized it was Benedict and ran away."
After the yobs fled, the Sun reported, the Cumberbatch hugged the delivery man from Deliveroo, a U.K. food-delivery service. After getting to know about the incident, the food company also thanked the actor.
"Thank you Benedict Cumberbatch for your brave actions. Deliveroo riders are heroes - their safety is our priority and any violence against them is totally unacceptable," the company wrote on Twitter. So on behalf of everyone at deliveroo: thank you."
Remembering Cumberbatch’s subtle reaction on the incident the driver revealed that he said, "I did it out of, well, I had to, you know."
About the incident, one of the males attempted to grab the delivery man's cycle, he was then punched in the face, struck on the head and hit with his helmet. However, nothing was reported stolen.
“The cyclist was lucky, Benedict's a superhero," Dias said. "Benedict was courageous, brave and selfless. If he hadn't stepped in, the cyclist could have been seriously injured.
