1960s celebrity Dick Van Dyke, who starred in “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and “Mary Poppins,” could have used some assistance from the shows' magical characters after he fell asleep while on a surfboard.

Luckily, some helpful sea animals prodded him to shore.

According to Van Dyke, it happened one day

after he took his board out during a beach trip.

Strangely enough, the 84-year-old woke up from a very, very deep sleep and found himself away from land and in the presence of unidentified fish.

When he saw their fins, he thought the worst. “I'm dead!”

But as it turned out, they were friendly porpoises. “And they pushed me all the way to shore…I'm not kidding!”

Readers found his rendition of the events incredulous. I mean, who the hell falls asleep on a surfboard? Well, maybe it's possible if you're 84…or if you're on painkillers and high as a kite.

Meanwhile, Ronnie Williams, of Liverpool, wasn't all that thrilled with the outcome.

Apparently, Van Dyke's Mary Poppins impersonation of a Brit had offended his better sensibilities.

“Pity a few sharks didn't get him!” Williams said. “The worst portrayal of a Cockney in cinema history belongs to Dick…!”

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.