Benedict Cumberbatch, the Sherlock and Dr Strange actor, has been hailed a hero after leaping to the defence of a Deliveroo cyclist to help fight off a gang of muggers. The 41-year-old reportedly said that he “had to” intervene after jumping out of an Uber taxi near his fictional character’s home in London’s Baker Street. Actor Benedict Cumberbatch, here as Marvel's Dr Strange, has been hailed a real-life superhero Credit:Chuck Zlotnick His actions meant the attackers fled, it was claimed, as he bravely fended the perpetrators off who allegedly smashed the cyclist over the head with a bottle. According to witnesses, he dragged the four muggers off the victim, who was in his 20s, after screaming at them to leave him alone. One of the men had tried to steal the cyclist’s bike, but nothing was stolen.<doc-sep>Enlarge Image Marvel Superheroes aren't just fighting the bad guys in movies. Doctor Strange actor Benedict Cumberbatch recently fought Thanos alongside his buddies the Avengers in Infinity War, but in reality he decided to battle the bad guys on his own in England. The actor was recently hailed hero after fending off several men who allegedly tried to rob a Deliveroo food delivery man in London, according to several reports on Friday. Cumberbatch was riding in an Uber when he noticed the altercation taking place, jumped from the car and intervened. Cumberbatch then yelled at the men, saying: "Leave him alone." He pulled the four men off the cyclist, and was almost punched by one of the men, but managed to duck. Eventually, the attackers fled. 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. So on behalf of everyone at deliveroo: thank you. pic.twitter.com/NGCkQB3z7J — Deliveroo (@Deliveroo) June 2, 2018 "The cyclist was lucky, Benedict's a superhero," Uber driver Ma­n­uel Dias told the Sun newspaper on Saturday. "I did it out of, well, I had to, you know," Cumberbatch said about in the incident, according to Dias.<doc-sep>SHERLOCK star Benedict ­Cumberbatch fought off a gang of four muggers as they beat up a defenceless Deliveroo cyclist. The actor, 41, leapt from an Uber car and waded in after spotting the attack near detective Sherlock Holmes’ fictional home in London’s Baker Street. 7 Benedict ­Cumberbatch fought off a gang of four muggers as they beat up a defenceless Deliveroo cyclist Credit: Fame Flynet The gang fled. Uber driver Ma­n­uel Dias said: “The cyclist was lucky, Benedict’s a superhero.” The star leapt to the rescue as the yobs punched the defenceless cyclist and smashed him over the head with a bottle. Witnesses told how Benedict, 41, jumped from an Uber car in which he was riding with wife Sophie Hunter and sprinted into the fray, yelling: “Leave him alone.” He dragged the four muggers off their bloodied victim. They then tried to punch Benedict, but he fen­ded them off before they fled. 7 The savage attack took place near detective Sherlock Holmes’ fictional home in London’s Baker Street The drama took place near 221B Baker Street, fictional London home of author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s hero detective Sherlock Holmes — star of crime books including The Hound of the Baskervilles. Driver Manuel Dias, 53, said: “I was taking Benedict and his wife to a club — but I didn’t know it was him at first. “I went to turn down into Marylebone High Street and we saw four guys were pushing around a Deliveroo cyclist. “My passenger jumped out, ran over and pulled the men away. They turned towards him and things looked like getting worse, so I joined in. 7 Uber driver Ma­n­uel Dias said: 'The cyclist was lucky, Benedict’s a superhero' Credit: Nick Obank - The Sun “He stood there instructing them in the street, shouting, ‘Leave him alone’. “It was only then I recognised Benedict. Then it all got a bit surreal. Here was Sherlock Holmes fighting off four attackers just round the corner from Baker Street. 7 Cumberbatch witnessed the assault near Marylebone High Street Credit: � Chris Eades - All rights reserved. Users than the commissioning publication may NOT use “I had hold of one lad and Benedict another. He seemed to know exactly what he was doing. He was very brave. He did most of it, to be honest. “They tried to hit him but he defended himself and pushed them away. He wasn’t injured. Then I think they also re­cognised it was Be­ne­dict and ran away. 7 Sherlock star Cumberbatch insisted he was not a hero, claiming he 'had to' help the victim Credit: AP:Associated Press 7 The defenceless cyclist was smashed over the head with a bottle during the brutal attack Credit: Getty Images - Getty “Benedict was courageous, brave and selfless. If he hadn’t stepped in the cyclist could have been seriously injured. “He asked the rider how he was and when he said, ‘I’m OK’ Benedict just hugged him.” 7 Cumberbatch with theatre director and and actress wife Sophie Hunter Credit: Rex Features MOST READ IN NEWS 'GOBSMACKED' Queen 'gave Harry OK for Oprah series after misleading pitch about soldiers' ROD LIDDLE Ousting right-on National Trust boss is a victory against wokery DRUMMER DEAD School Of Rock star dies at 32 after being hit by car as Jack Black mourns HOUSE ABOUT IT You won't believe what this ordinary London home looks like on the inside Exclusive TOM'S LEGACY Captain Tom Moore — who raised £39m for charity — left family £73k in will JABS HOPE Scientists 'crack cause of blood clots linked to Covid jabs & know how to fix it' The four attackers were still on the run. Cops confirmed they were called to an assault on a delivery rider. Modest Benedict insisted he was not a hero. He said: “I did it out of, well, I had to, you know . . .” A spokesman for Deliveroo said: "Deliveroo riders are heroes delivering millions of meals to hungry customers right across the country. "Their safety is our priority and any violence against riders is totally unacceptable. "We’d like to thank Benedict Cumberbatch for his heroic actions. On behalf of everyone at deliveroo: thank you so much."<doc-sep>
Send this page to someone via email The food-delivery firm Deliveroo thanked Benedict Cumberbatch on Saturday after a newspaper reported that the Sherlock star had fought off muggers who were attacking one of its cyclists. READ MORE: Benedict Cumberbatch is now a Commander of the British Empire Uber driver Manuel Dias told the Sun newspaper that he was driving Cumberbatch and his wife Sophie Hunter along London’s Marylebone High Street when they saw a cyclist being hit with a bottle. He said Cumberbatch jumped out of the car and grabbed one of the attackers. “I had hold of one lad and Benedict another,” Dias was quoted as saying. “He seemed to know exactly what he was doing. He was very brave.” “Here was Sherlock Holmes fighting off four attackers just round the corner from Baker Street,” he added. Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Here was Sherlock Holmes fighting off four attackers just round the corner from Baker Street," he added. Story continues below advertisement The fictional detective’s home address in London is around the corner from the scene of the attack. 1:12 Benedict Cumberbatch shows up at comic store dressed as Doctor Strange Cumberbatch’s spokeswoman declined to comment. The newspaper didn’t say when the incident occurred. Police said a delivery cyclist was assaulted in the street in November. On Saturday, Deliveroo praised Cumberbatch “for his heroic actions.” “On behalf of everyone at Deliveroo: Thank you so much,” it said. Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "On behalf of everyone at Deliveroo: Thank you so much," it said.