A hero dad has drowned saving a friend’s six-year-old son after the terrified boy was swept out to sea on a deadly riptide.

Boater Adem Qorri, 40, leapt into the sea off Florida’s Gulf of Mexico coast when he saw the boy, the son of his friend, named as Dale Furness, was struggling to stay afloat.

But as he battled to keep the boy – named Carson – from going under, he struggled to stay above the water himself.

Adem was finally pulled from the water off Anclote River Park, by people in another boat but was declared dead by emergency room medics at hospital.

Carson’s mother, named as Mallory Hutchinson, told local media: “I can’t even say how thankful I am.”

Kosovo-born Adem’s wife Blerta said: “I would say he would do it again over and over and over, and he wouldn’t think about it.”

His cousin Migena Gashi set up a GoFundMe page to help Blerta and their children, with the summary saying: “Hi, my name is Migena and I’m raising a fundraiser for my cousin Blerta Qorri and her kids. This poor family lost their husband/daddy yesterday.

“Adem Qorri passed away a hero and drowned in the ocean while saving a kid.

“He was out on a boat with his friends and their children and Adem’s sons are traumatized by the events that took place.

“My heart hurts so bad for his boys and wife and I’m so sorry for their loss.

“Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time and if you can help them in any way.”

At the time of writing, it had raised over USD 51,000 out of a USD 50,000 goal.