Ben Stokes was a real hero, reveals the gay couple he defended

England all-rounder Ben Stokes has been termed a ‘real hero’ for playing the rescuer’s role and protecting a gay couple in the eventful Bristol ‘fight night’ incident. The 26-year old England Test vice-captain will not travel with his English teammates as he waits back home to hear the verdict on his case. Stokes, as well as the rest of the cricketing world, will wait and see if he gets charged with any criminal charges due to the incident which took place outside a nightclub in Bristol, in the month of September.

Adding a new twist to the tale, and possibly the biggest impact in this case, Kai Barry and Billy O’Connell told The Sun on Saturday that Stokes was a hero for them, as the cricketer saved the gay couple from humiliation and a possible physical damage.

Stokes was a gentleman: O’Connell

The couple said that Stokes bought them drinks when they met him and Stokes’ fellow colleague Alex Hales. They also said that the cricketer was a gentleman and things could have been worse if he had not intervened.

“We were so grateful to Ben for stepping in to help. He was a real hero,” 20-year-old O’Connell told the newspaper. “Kai feared he could be attacked. If Ben hadn’t intervened it could have been a lot worse for us.” Barry added things could have got ugly if the England star hadn’t intervened.

“I’m not a fighter and we didn’t want a fight,” said Barry, 26. “We could’ve been in real trouble. Ben was a real gentleman.” Barry said they hadn’t realised the fall out for Stokes until they received a visit from a police officer this week.

The couple also added that they hope Stokes will get to participate in the Ashes against Australia. O’Connell said that it would be awful if the cricketer’s career gets jeopardised because of this incident.