A HEARTBROKEN mum has told of how she helplessly watched her partner drown after he saved their son who was stuck in a riptide.

       David Cole, 30, tragically died after being dragged out to sea at an Essex beach while trying to help his son, three.

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       David Cole has been hailed a 'hero' after he died saving his three-year-old son Credit: gofundme 2

       The dad-of-two tragically drowned last month Credit: Stuart Howells/bbc

       Katie Macdonald said her "amazing" partner made sure their tot was alright - holding the youngster's head above water - while he was dragged under.

       The mum-of-two, who was sitting on the West Mersea beach with their other son as the tragedy unfolded last month, has now hailed David a hero.

       Katie told the BBC: "Not being able to do anything, feeling helpless, was so hard - it was horrible.

       "He is just a hero. A hero in the sense he put his son before himself and saved his son's life."

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       The Hertfordshire mum paid tribute to her partner, who she said worked so hard to "give us everything he possibly could".

       Katie continued: "Dave was amazing. He was the best dad ever.

       "He was like a big kid himself. All he ever wanted to do with the kids was have fun and make everything fun for the kids."

       The mum is now singing praises for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) crew.

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       She said: "The lifeboat crew were just really good at splitting themselves between being with my partner and trying to resuscitate him and then looking after my three-year-old.

       "It could have been my three-year-old son who drowned as well if it weren't for them."

       Katie is now raising money for RNLI and Colchester Hospital children's ward, who she says was "amazing " at looking after her family.

       She has now raised more than ￡4,000 for the RNLI through her GoFundMe to date.

       On it she wrote: "The lifeboat team arrived within minutes and did everything they could possibly do for my partner Dave but sadly he didn’t make it and passed away there on the beach.

       "My three-year-old son who was in the water with him was beginning to drown but thankfully was got to in time.

       "Apart from some shock he was fine and recovered well. In Dave's memory I would like to raise money and gift it to the RNLI lifeboat team from Mersea island."

       The mum included: "I will also be raising money on this page for Colchester Hospital children’s ward as they were amazing looking after my family dealing with the loss of Dave, and also they were amazing looking after my three-year-old son.

       "I would greatly appreciate anything you could give to help me raise money for these two amazing places."