Mike Tyson rescues an injured motorcyclist after Las Vegas crash

The former boxing champion was compared to a "super hero" following his surprise good turn

Mike Tyson has led an appalling and sad life, but are we not a country that gives second chances? (Getty)

You may or may not wish to see Mike Tyson's face looming over you following a motorcycling crash, but this is exactly what happened to one individual last week.

The former boxing champion came to the rescue of an injured motorcyclist after a crash on the Las Vegas interstate on Tuesday 16 September.

Ryan Chesley was lying on the ground when he saw Tyson towering over him, yelling at people not to touch him.

"He thought he was hallucinating," Chesley’s attorney, Stephen Stubbs, said. "He thought he was in some other world."

Despite suffering broken bones and torn ligaments, Chesley managed to take a picture of the boxer on his phone.

When the paramedics arrived, Tyson "just left, like some kind of superhero", Stubbs said.

Chesley - who has now been released from hospital - sent Tyson a fruit basket with a handwritten note to show his appreciation.

"Thank you so much for looking over me after my accident," said the note, which Tyson’s assistant Steve Lott provided to The Associated Press. "It has to be the most reassuring thing in the world to have Mike Tyson telling people not to touch me."

The kindly act may come as a surprise to some, following Tyson’s recent rant at a Canadian news anchor who dared mention his former rape conviction.

The boxer had joined Toronto Mayor Rob Ford – who has since been hospitalised following a cancer diagnosis – on his campaign trail, telling reporters that the politician was the "best Mayor in Toronto’s history".

Ford has admitted to smoking crack cocaine in the past and has been embroiled in a numerous incidents involving drink and drugs.

Talking live on television, Toronto CP24 reporter Nathan Downer then asked Tyson the following reasonable question, which led to a expletive-filled response.

"Some of your critics would say 'this is a race for mayor, we know you're a convicted rapist, this could hurt his campaign', how would you respond to that?" questioned Downer.

"It's interesting because you come across like a nice guy but you're really a piece of sh*t… f*ck you, that was a piece of sh*t," said Tyson.

Later during the interview, Downer thanked Tyson for coming on the show, to which Tyson replied "f**k you".