Benedict Cumberbatch recounts cheating death, twice!

Benedict Cumberbatch is renowned for his super sleuth Sherlock and master of mystic arts Doctor Strange. In his real life too, he has shown to be a man of intelligence, and somehow also a man who possesses the art of escaping danger over and over again.

Cumberbatch recently made headlines due to a distressing encounter with a former luxury hotel chef who threatened him with a knife during a home invasion. However, this alarming incident was not the first time the actor had faced a life-threatening situation. Before rising to fame, Cumberbatch narrowly escaped death when he and a few others were abducted and held at gunpoint by six armed men in a harrowing incident.

Arshad Khan ‘chaiwala’: Viral fame to global entrepreneurship

Reflecting on this earlier near-death experience, Cumberbatch had recounted an incident from 2005 when he was filming the BBC series “To the Ends of the Earth” in South Africa alongside actress Denise Black and a local actor. Their car suffered a flat tire during the shoot, and while attempting to address the issue, they found themselves surrounded by six armed assailants. Cumberbatch vividly remembered the events, stating, “They frisked each of us for weapons and valuables, then forced us back into the car and drove us into a remote area. The car came to a halt, and we were ordered to kneel with our hands on our heads. We were essentially in an execution-like position, with blankets over our heads to muffle any gunshots.”

The acclaimed actor continued his account, recalling, “I attempted to stand, but they interpreted it as a sign of panic or evasion. They commanded me to stand up and get into the car’s trunk.” He added, “I heard Denise pleading, ‘Please don’t kill him.’ Eventually, they opened the trunk again and “I found myself calmly lying that I was claustrophobic and I could panic and die and be a problem for them,” Cumberbatch recalls.

He explained, “They led me up a small hill away from the others, made me kneel, and bound my hands behind my back using shoelaces they had removed earlier.” He went on to say, “I heard them say, ‘We don’t intend to harm you, but a single mistake could cost you your life. Lie on the ground.'”

After three tense hours of lying on the ground, the armed men departed, leaving Cumberbatch and the others shivering and face-down. Law enforcement later rescued them from the scene.

Recounting the ordeal, Cumberbatch revealed, “I still bear a scar from where I was tied up. It was a horrifying experience. The following morning, I woke up as a free man with the sun on my face, and I wept. I feared I might never feel its warmth again.”