Benedict Cumberbatch recalls moment he saved defenceless Deliveroo cyclist from brutal assault by gang of four muggers

SHERLOCK star Benedict Cumberbatch has said it was "foolhardy" to fight off a gang of muggers who were beating up a Deliveroo cyclist.
The actor, 42, jumped out of his Uber to help the man being attacked on Marylebone High Street, close to Sherlock Holmes' fictional home in Baker Street.
Thankfully the gang fled and Cumberbatch's Uber driver Manuel Dias later said: "The cyclist was lucky, Benedict’s a superhero."
But now, the Imitation Game star has admitted he did not think about how much danger he placed himself in on that cold November night.
He told the Ellen DeGeneres Show: "I just stopped the Uber that we were in and got out and tried to calm the kids down.
"I didn't really think twice about knives or acid or any of the other things that can be part of that situation, so it was a bit foolhardy.
"I literally got in the way. I also tried to stop traffic so they could witness it and if anything did happen.
"There were people there and that might scare any violence out of the situation."
The star leapt to the rescue as the yobs punched the defenceless cyclist and smashed him over the head with a bottle.
Witnesses said Benedict, who was in the taxi with wife Sophie Hunter, sprinted into the fray, yelling: "Leave him alone!"
He dragged the four muggers off their bloodied victim as they tried to punch the actor.
The drama took place near 221B Baker Street, fictional London home of author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's hero detective Sherlock Holmes.
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.
"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.
"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.
"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."
The four attackers were still on the run. Cops confirmed they were called to an assault on a delivery rider.
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."
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