A 5-year-old dressed as Batman ended up helping save a man from drowning after spotting him stranded on a disappearing sandbank in New Brighton, England.

Lucas saw the man waving his arms as his family drove home on Tuesday evening, July 14, after he had been playing Batman in a dance school performance.

His family pulled over and called Wirral Coastguard, which alerted a nearby RNLI crew already on the water for a training exercise.

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.”

Murray recorded the rescue from the promenade as the family waited.

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 tried to enter the water to reach shore, but members of the public reportedly signalled for him to stay on the sandbank because deep, fast-flowing water had already surrounded it.

Murray said: “I was almost laughing with pure nervousness.

“He must’ve been so relieved.”

After the man and his two dogs were brought safely ashore, Lucas’ family told him he had become a hero too.

Murray said: “Lucas was buzzing because he played Batman in the play.

“We said: ‘You helped save that man.’ And he said, ‘Just like Batman!'”

Murray has since made a donation to the RNLI in Lucas’ name to thank the volunteers involved in the rescue.

Lucas has also been offered a tour of the New Brighton lifeboat station and the chance to meet the crew. He is a member of Squirrels, the Scouts section for 4- and 5-year-olds, and is now hoping his actions will earn him his 999 badge.

Wirral Coastguard said it was its 194th rescue of 2026 and that officers were tasked at 8:26 p.m.

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.”

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