The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
‘Hero’ Hardy catches suspect
Two teenagers were arrested following a suspected motorcycle theft after they were apprehended by a member of the public thought to have been actor Tom Hardy.
A witness told how the Hollywood star caught the rider in a dramatic chase through gardens and a building site during the incident on Sunday.
The Metropolitan Police said it arrested the 16-yearold males near the actor’s home in Richmond, southwest London, and they have since been released.
Onlooker Arun Pullen, 22, told a newspaper how two youths on a motorbike jumped a red light at a busy junction before crashing into a £50,000 Mercedes.
He said the 39-year-old Batman star “switched into superhero mode”, chasing down one of them before checking him for weapons.
“Tom must have been walking down the road. He went off like a shot in pursuit and looked furious,” he said.
“I asked Tom what happened and he told me he chased him through my back garden and caught him around the block – but the route was like an assault course.”
Mr Pullen’s girlfriend Kalisha, a fan of the actor, added: “There was no mistaking him.”
Scotland Yard said in a statement yesterday: “At 12.34pm on Sunday, April 23, a motorcycle was in collision with a car in Sheen Road, Richmond.
“Officers happened to be present. Two 16-year-old boys immediately made off from the scene.
“The pillion passenger was detained by police a short distance away.” Sir Elton John has cancelled a series of shows in the US after suffering from a “potentially deadly” bacterial infection that forced him to spend two nights in intensive care.
The singer, 70, contracted the infection during his recent tour of South America.
He became “violently ill” during the flight home from Santiago, Chile and was admitted to hospital.
Sir Elton is now back at home but has been forced to cancel the April and May dates of his Las Vegas residency.
A statement said: “We regret to inform you that due to medical reasons, Elton John is forced to cancel his entire performance schedule for the upcoming April/May run of The Million Dollar Piano at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
“Elton is also cancelling his scheduled performance for Bakersfield, California, for Saturday, May 6.”
Sir Elton said: “I am so fortunate to have the most incredible and loyal fans and apologise for disappointing them.
“I am extremely grateful to the medical team for their excellence in looking after me so well.”
The statement continued: “During a recent tour of South America, Elton contracted a harmful and unusual bacterial infection. During his return flight home from Santiago, Chile, he became violently ill.
“Upon returning to the UK, Elton’s doctors admitted him to hospital, where he underwent treatment to remove the infection.
“After spending two nights in intensive care followed by an extended stay in hospital, Elton was released from hospital on Saturday, April 22, and is now comfortably resting at home per doctors advice.
“Infections of this nature are rare and potentially deadly. Thankfully, Elton’s medical team identified this quickly and treated it successfully. He is expected to make a full and complete recovery.”
The star, whose hits include I’m Still Standing, will be performing live in Twickenham, south-west London, on June 3.
“I am grateful to the medical team for their excellence”