Real life Superman who saved woman from robber is from Banbury

Antonio Cortes, was dressed as Superman when he saved a woman from a robbery at a cashpoint. Photo: SWNS

Charity worker Antonio Cortes, who was dressed as the caped hero, was eating his breakfast at a pub when he heard screaming.

He ditched his full English and ran outside - where he saw a man in dark clothing with his hands around a woman’s neck at a bank in Gloucester city centre.

Antonio sprung into action and chased the middle-aged man down the street before wrestling him to the ground and holding him there.

Antonio said he was 'just doing what anyone else would have done'. Photo: SWNS

A 54-year-old man was arrested after the drama on Wednesday morning and is in custody.

Antonio, 32, who is fundraising as Superman for the Give a Smile social enterprise for struggling families, said: “I heard screaming and saw a woman in distress.

“A man had just tried to rob her and was strangling her at the cash point.

“By the time I realised what was going on he was walking really fast and had made it down the street.

Antonio outside the cashpoint where the incident took place. Photo: SWNS

“I grabbed him and tried to bring him back but he tried running off, so I held him and swept his legs from under his feet.

“I then held him there until the police arrived about five minutes later.”

After the incident the victim was taken into the bank by staff and looked after.

Antonio, who hails from Tenerife and lives in Banbury, said the incident was no joke.

“There were a few passersby laughing and joking but it was quite scary,” he added.

“The lady’s husband came out of the bank later on and shook my hand.

“I feel like a real life super hero, but I just did what anyone else would have done.

“It feels good knowing that I have saved someone. It’s scary to think that in broad daylight, someone can do that.

“It is nice to know that that man is no longer on the streets.”

He added: “The police said ‘we need more people like you’ but I’m just happy to help.”

The woman suffered neck injuries but was treated by the ambulance at the scene.

An eyewitness who worked at the pub where Antonio was having his breakfast, said it was amazing to see the rescue.

She said: “I went up to give him his large English breakfast and he had gone.

“He just flew through the fire exit. It was quite a surprise.”

Police confirmed Antonio’s heroic role in an official statement saying: “The offender was apprehended by passers-by including a man

dressed as Superman.”