Batman fan Lucas used his superhero skills to make out a man in the distance who needed to be rescued before the Coastguard was alerted, which scooped him up and brought him back to shore
A five-year-old boy dressed as Batman turned into a real-life superhero when he helped save a man from drowning.
Like the world’s greatest detective, eagle-eyed Lucas spotted a man frantically waving from a rapidly disappearing sandbank as his family were driving home in New Brighton, Merseyside. Footage showed the man surrounded by water and desperately waving his arms as the sandbank disappeared around him.
Lucas, who had been playing Batman in a dance school performance, pointed out the man in the distance. His family quickly pulled over, raising the alarm with Wirral Coastguard which alerted a nearby RNLI crew.
Lucas’ aunt Debbie Murray, 41, said: “He was playing Batman in a musical he did with his dance school. And when were driving home and he looked out of the window and said, ‘What’s that?’
“When we looked there was this guy just frantically waving. So we pulled over and I took out my phone.
“There was a couple of people walking past us but even if he was shouting, I don’t think anyone would’ve heard him because he was so far out.” Lucas had just performed as the caped crusader with his dance school on Tuesday evening.
Luckily, the lifeboat was already on the water taking part in a training exercise and was able to reach the stranded man and his two dogs quickly. Support worker Debbie recorded the dramatic rescue as the family waited anxiously on the promenade.
She said: “He was like a dot so I zoomed in. The zoom is really good on my phone but he still looked really small, that’s how far away he was.
“The sand comes up in different heights, so he’s just ended up on a hill of sand. He was at the highest point but if he was to come forward he’d just be underwater.
“I just can’t believe how quick the water came up. Obviously, there was a little bit of landmass there – but for two minutes, it looked like he was walking on the water.
“The coastguard were there just in time.” The man had attempted to enter the water to reach the shore but was reportedly signalled by members of the public to remain on the sandbank because of the deep, fast-flowing water surrounding him.
Debbie said: “I was almost laughing with pure nervousness. He must’ve been so relieved.”
After the man and his dogs were brought safely ashore, the family told Lucas he had become a hero himself. Debbie said: “Lucas was buzzing because he played Batman in the play.
“We said: ‘You helped save that man’. And he said: ‘Just like Batman!'” Debbie has since made a donation to the RNLI in Lucas’ name to thank the volunteers involved in the rescue.
The youngster has also been offered a tour of the New Brighton lifeboat station and the chance to meet the crew. Lucas is a member of Squirrels, the Scouts section for four and five-year-olds, and is now hoping his actions will earn him his 999 badge.
Wirral Coastguard said the incident, its 194th rescue of 2026, began when officers were tasked at 8.26pm. A spokesperson said: “The casualty had entered the water in an attempt to reach shore.
“Thankfully, members of the public signalled for them to remain on the sandbank, as deep, fast-flowing water had already surrounded the bank.
“The casualty and both dogs were safely recovered by New Brighton Lifeboat and brought ashore, where they were met by Coastguard Rescue Officers.”
The Mirror has launched the Save Lives For Sam water safety campaign to tackle the UK’s growing drowning crisis. Backed by MPs, Olympic champions, national water safety organisations and bereaved families, the campaign is calling for urgent action to make our waters safer.
That includes compulsory water safety lessons in schools, a nationwide public awareness campaign, better lifesaving equipment at high-risk waterways, the introduction of Sam’s Law, and a dedicated Minister for Water Safety. Find out more about the campaign and how you can support it here.
