Tom Cruise is a real-life hero - report

Movie star Tom Cruise turned real-life hero after he reportedly swooped into action to tend to a man hurt in an horrific accident on the set of his new film Oblivion.

A British crew member was admitted to hospital after he was crushed by a large weight on the set of the sci-fi thriller last month (May12) in Louisiana.

There were fears the injured man, known only as David, could be paralyzed, but caring Cruise reportedly ordered his private pilot to take him to a specialist spinal injury clinic in Baton Rouge.

A source tells Britain's Daily Mirror, "Tom stayed cool and swept straight into action. He didn't take a back seat at all and made sure his Gulfstream V jet was ready to go in case it was needed. It was quick thinking. David could have suffered permanent spinal injury, so it might have been vital he was flown to hospital.

"Tom was great. He gave so much support to David and his family. It was a terrible accident but Tom had no obligation to put himself out like that. It really meant a lot to the rest of the people on the set."

Cruise also paid a visit to David while he was in intensive care for four days.

It's not the first time Cruise has been praised for his offscreen heroics - he has saved fans from being crushed at premieres and he once comforted a hit-and-run victim and paid the hospital bills after witnessing the incident.