WHEN Kyle Miller met his comic book hero Iron Man his jaw dropped and his face lit up.

The brave five-year-old is recovering after a second major heart operation in October.

The Glory Farm School pupil was born with a heart defect called Tetralogy of Fallot, which only affects one in every 3,600 babies, and had his first surgery aged just six months.

Kyle and his family, brother Lleyton, three, mum Mikyla Butler, of Lancaster Close, Bicester, and dad Anthony Miller have been supported by two charities, the British Heart Foundation and Heartlink, an organisation that supports the children’s heart ward at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester, where Kyle had both his operations.

Now Kyle’s extended family, aunts Charlotte Brown and Maddison Duncalf have taken the charities to heart and started fundraising in his name.

Last weekend they took over Bicester Rugby Club, in Oxford Road, to host a match and family fun day.

And the guest of honour was Kyle’s hero Iron Man.

Mr Miller said: “It was a picture – as soon as Iron Man came out Kyle ran up to him and gave him a cuddle. They wouldn’t leave him alone.”

Mrs Brown said when he came face-to-face with the superhero it was a “complete surprise”.

She said: “Kyle and Lleyton were shocked and so happy he was there. It was a brilliant day and we raised £360 and the total is still growing. They are two fantastic causes.”

Mrs Brown said they decided to organise the event, which attracted more than 100 people, because Kyle had been so “amazing”.

She said: “To compare himself to Iron Man it’s just such a positive spin on such a hard situation he has been put into.

“He’s come on leaps and bounds and has exceeded all the doctors’ thoughts on how quickly he would heal.

“Just to do it for Kyle makes me proud, and hopefully makes him proud too.

Among the festive themed activities was draw a snowman while blindfolded, pin the nose on Rudolf and name the Elf, and a barbecue and raffle.

Kyle is doing well and back at school on a part-time basis.

Ms Butler said: “They came back to me and their faces were beaming.

“Kyle is doing well. He’s doing some mornings at school and he’s okay with that.

“I have noticed his stamina has increased, he’s not in his wheelchair as much, but he doesn’t know his limits.”

Marvel character Iron Man has a powered suit of armour that helps him protect the world while keeping his true identity a secret.

Kyle’s family have raised nearly £4,000 so far.