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Trainee reporter lands exclusive interview with Superman

Ellis LaneIt might not have been a case of a “mild-mannered reporter” changing into Superman, but one regional daily trainee found the next best thing outside his own newspaper’s offices.

A real-life hero dressed as Superman foiled an alleged mugger just around the corner from the headquarters of The Citizen, Gloucester, and trainee reporter Ellis Lane, pictured left, rushed to the scene to get an exclusive interview.

Ellis, who has worked on The Citizen for three months, was alerted by a receptionist at its office in The Oxebode, Gloucester, after a witness ran in to the building to tell the newspaper the story.

Rather than his usual alter ego of Daily Planet journalist Clark Kent, Superman was unmasked as Antonio Cortes, who had donned the fancy dress on Wednesday morning to raise funds for charity.

Antonio told Ellis how he had been eating breakfast in a nearby pub when he heard a woman scream. Ditching his full English, he chased the alleged assailant down the street before wrestling him to the ground.

The story was carried on the front page of yesterday’s edition of The Citizen, pictured below.

Gloucester Superman

Ellis, no relation to Clark Kent’s love interest Lois Lane, told HTFP: “I got a picture of him in the Superman pose outside the bank and it went from there.

“It seems to have gone down really well since it has been released, few nationals have picked it up and it got a lot of reaction on social media.

“I think it was just a nice story really, about a ‘have a go hero’, it was just a brilliant stroke of luck that he was dressed as Superman at the time.”

Kevin James McKenzie, 54, from Gloucester, has been charged with attempted robbery following the incident.

2 comments

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  • January 29, 2016 at 9:14 am
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    Where’s the story – this happens all the time?

    Seriously – well done Ellis Lane (Lois Lane – you couldn’t make it up!). This is the kind of crazy stuff some of us got into this industry for.
    In the right place at the right time and a story to tell for years to come.

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  • January 29, 2016 at 10:42 am
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    This is the sort of great, fun treatment of a story that local newspapers should be all about.
    Love the ‘Lane’ connection and Confused is right, our young reporter and no doubt his colleagues will be telling this story with a smile many years from now.
    These are the sort of tales that reporters with a history of working in the industry for decades, have a fund of. It’s one of the great, unsung, attractions of the job.

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