English actor Dev Patel successfully broke up a fight outside a convenience store in South Australia in which a man was stabbed in the chest.

Representatives confirmed Patel – who has starred in films including Slumdog Millionaire, Lion and The Green Knight – and his friends witnessed “a violent altercation that was already in progress outside a convenience store”.

In a statement given to Variety, they said: “Dev acted on his natural instinct to try and de-escalate the situation and break up the fight.”

“The group was thankfully successful in doing so and they remained on site to ensure that the police and eventually the ambulance arrived.”

South Australia police confirmed that a woman has been arrested after an incident in the Adelaide city centre where she allegedly stabbed a man in the chest.

In a statement, police said: “About 8.45pm on Monday 1 August, police were called to Gouger Street after reports of a man and woman fighting in the street. The couple continued fighting inside a nearby service station where witnesses attempted to break up the fight.”

“The pair are known to each other, and this is not a random incident.”

“A 32-year-old man from Glengowrie was treated at the scene by ambulance officers before being taken to the Royal Adelaide hospital. His injuries are not considered life threatening.”

“A 34-year-old woman from Park Holme was charged with aggravated assault causing harm.”

The woman has been refused bail and appeared in the Adelaide magistrates court Tuesday, according to police.

Patel’s team made a statement about the incident.

“There are no heroes in this situation and sadly this specific incident highlights a larger systemic issue of marginalised members of society not being treated with the dignity and respect they deserve,” the statement said.

“The hope is that the same level of media attention this story is receiving (solely because Dev, as a famous person, was involved) can be a catalyst for lawmakers to be compassionate in determining long-term solutions to help not only the individuals who were involved but the community at large,” it concluded.

Patel was staying in Adelaide, the home of his girlfriend, Tilda Cobham-Hervey.

The two met filming Hotel Mumbai, after Cobham-Hervey stepped in as the female lead when Teresa Palmer pulled out due to her pregnancy.