A HEROIC dad drowned while saving the life of his three-year-old son after they were swept out to sea by a riptide, an inquest opening heard.

David Cole, 30, was enjoying a day at the beach in West Mersea with his young family on June 11 when tragedy struck.

The dad-of-two got into trouble in the water while paddling with his son, three, and the duo were dragged out to sea.

Mr Cole sadly drowned while saving his son’s life by holding his head above the water.

Echo: Hero - David Cole drowned while saving the life of his three-year-old sonHero - David Cole drowned while saving the life of his three-year-old son (Image: Katie Macdonald)

An inquest opened and adjourned at Essex Coroner’s Court this morning (Thursday) heard Mr Cole was airlifted to Colchester Hospital.

“Resuscitation was stopped after discussion with the hospital team and he sadly passed away,” said area coroner Michelle Brown.

“Police have confirmed they are satisfied there was no third party involvement.”

Ms Brown said a post-mortem examination determined Mr Cole’s provisional cause of death as drowning.

Echo: Emergency - an air ambulance arrives at West Mersea during the incident in JuneEmergency - an air ambulance arrives at West Mersea during the incident in June (Image: Murray MacGregor)

The heroic dad’s partner Katie Macdonald launched a fundraiser in aid of the RNLI crew at West Mersea Lifeboat Station who pulled her loved ones from the water, which has since raised more than £7,000.

Ms Macdonald, 27, was on the beach with the couple’s other son, aged one, at the time of the incident.

She previously told the Gazette: “Not being able to do anything, feeling helpless, was so hard – it was horrible.

"One moment David was right in front of me with the water only around his waist.

"But then in a flash a riptide swept him out to sea and he was in a lot of trouble.”

Echo: Tragic - Katie Macdonald said David Cole was 'the best dad ever'Tragic - Katie Macdonald said David Cole was 'the best dad ever' (Image: Katie Macdonald)

A paddleboarder and two lifeguards were the first to try and help the father and son before the RNLI crew at Southend arrived just minutes later.

Paying tribute to her partner, Ms Macdonald said he was “the best dad ever” who “only wanted to have fun with the kids”.

She added: “"He's a hero. A hero in the sense he put his son before himself and saved his son’s life."

Rick Boreham, lifeboat operations manager at West Mersea RNLI, said Ms Macdonald “will receive a warm welcome” from the crew in recognition of her fundraiser.