Ryan Gosling stops near-miss car accident

Ryan Gosling stepped in to save a woman being hit by a taxi in New York. Photo / Supplied

Ryan Gosling saved a woman from being hit by a taxi in New York City.

British writer-and-journalist Laurie Penny was enjoying an evening in Manhattan on Tuesday night when she started to walk into oncoming traffic forgetting that cars drive on the right side of the road in the US.

But quick-thinking Gosling, 31, pulled her back before she was run over by a Yellow Cab.

Laurie - who writes for English newspapers The Independent and The Guardian among other publications - wrote on her Twitter account: "I literally, LITERALLY just got saved from a car by Ryan Gosling. Literally. That actually just happened ... I was crossing 6th avenue in a new pink wig. Not looking the right way because I am from London. Ryan Gosling grabbed me away from a taxi. (sic)"

The Hollywood heartthrob's identity was confirmed by an onlooker.

Laurie added in another tweet: "Identity of no-idea-if-actually-a-manarchist-but-definitely-a-decent-sort Ryan Gosling confirmed by girl near me, who said 'you lucky bitch'. (sic)"

Gosling's representative is yet to confirm the 31-year-old actor's act.

Incredibly, this is not the Drive star's first feat of heroism on the streets of New York.

In August 2011, Gosling was caught on video intervening in a brawl between a street vendor and an enraged customer.

- Bang! Showbiz