World reacts as Dev Patel helps to break up knife fight in Adelaide
Dev Patel’s intervention to break up a violent altercation in Adelaide has made world news headlines. But a rep for the actor said Patel was simply acting “on natural instinct”.
SA News
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Hollywood star Dev Patel’s selfless actions in trying to help break up a violent knife fight in the CBD have made headlines around the world.
The actor, known for roles in major movies including Slumdog Millionaire and Lion, was captured by a 7NEWS camera crew speaking to police on Monday after a stabbing on Gouger St that left a man in hospital.
The images were captured after a fight between a man and a woman broke out on the street about 8.45pm.
The fighting allegedly continued inside a nearby service station and witnesses, including Patel and his companions, reportedly tried to break up the fight.
The woman allegedly stabbed the man in the chest during the incident, and the Glengowrie man, 32, was treated at the scene by paramedics before being rushed to the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
His injuries are not considered life-threatening,
The woman, from Park Holme, 34, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault causing harm.
She was refused bail to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Police said the pair were known to each other.
News of Patel’s efforts on the scene were reported by several major publications including Variety, People, the AV Club, Indiewire, Fox News, Rolling Stone, and The New York Post.
In a statement reported by major outlets, a rep for the actor said: “We can confirm that last night, in Adelaide, Dev Patel and his friends witnessed a violent altercation that was already in progress outside of a convenience store.”
Patel has been living in SA with fellow actor and girlfriend Tilda Cobham-Hervey who is from Adelaide.
“Dev acted on his natural instinct to try and de-escalate the situation and break up the fight,” the rep reportedly said.
“The group was thankfully successful in doing so and they remained on site to ensure that the police and eventually the ambulance arrived.”
“There are no heroes in this situation and sadly this specific incident highlights a larger systemic issue of marginalized members of society not being treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.”
“The hope is that the same level of media attention this story is receiving (solely because Dev, as a famous person, was involved) can be a catalyst for lawmakers to be compassionate in determining long-term solutions to help not only the individuals who were involved but the community at large.”
The violence follows a series of stabbings in Adelaide in recent months, including one that occurred near the city Railway Station.
A Far North woman, 28, was taken to the RAH and treated for leg injuries on May 15.
A man was also stabbed in a home invasion in Elizabeth Vale in May.