Stars pay visit to real little superhero fighter

THOR stars paid a surprise visit to sick children in Brisbane, among whom was 10-year-old Calyn Hoad, himself something of a local superhero.

AMID crowds of adoring fans in the Brisbane CBD on Tuesday, Hollywood stars Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston spent their day playing superheroes on film.

By night, the pair proved they were equally worthy of the titles off screen.

The laid-back stars of the latest Marvel franchise blockbuster Thor: Ragnorok spent much of the day winning the hearts of adoring fans who had gathered in closed down city streets, casually mingling with the crowds who had come in the hope of spotting them, snapping selfies and signing autographs.

But their most appreciative audience was yet to come.

The pair went straight from filming in city streets to paying a surprise visit to sick children in the nearby Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital, who, by all accounts, were thoroughly delighted by their unexpected visitors.

Among the patients they visited was 10-year-old Calyn Hoad, himself something of a local superhero.

In August, 2013, when he was aged just seven, Calyn spotted a four wheel drive hurtling towards him and his four-year-old brother Kya in a street near their home in Beenleigh, about 25 kilometres south of Brisbane.

The youngster selflessly pushed his brother out of the way of the oncoming car but was hit himself, suffering major brain trauma.

In the intervening three years, his aunt Rebecca Tatun said, he has made great recovery strides, learning to walk and talk again and even returning to school.

But a week ago, he was rushed to Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital suffering streptococcal pneumonia and meningitis, and, Ms Tatun said, the family came very close to losing him again.

“Sometimes it feels like he takes one step forward and then 10 steps back,” Ms Tatun said.

“But he is amazing. Even Kya calls him his superhero.”

Ms Tatun said like many boys his age, Calyn was a huge Marvel fan and Tuesday night’s visit would have meant more to him than either Mr Hemsworth or Mr Hiddleston could ever have known.

“He’s so sick but his mum said he was really excited and had a massive smile on his face,” Ms Tatun said.

“All little boys love The Avengers or Iron Man and he’s always loved them, so this would have been a huge thing for him this afternoon.

“When he gets better he will be talking about it.

“It means so much for Chris and Tom to go in there. It doesn’t take much for them to do it but what they have given is huge.”

Thor: Ragnorok is due to resume filming for a third day in Brisbane’s CBD on Wednesday, a section of which has been made over to look like New York City.

Calyn received a bravery award in Canberra in February this year for saving his brother’s life.