Medal presented to dead Australian firefighter's toddler

Australian Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons pinning a medal on Geoffrey Keaton's son Harvey. Photo / NSW Rural Fire Service

The photo shows the heartbreaking moment the son of a volunteer who died fighting Australian bushfires was presented with his father's medal for bravery at his funeral.

Harvey Keaton, 19 months, wore a uniform and sucked on his dummy as he received his father's posthumous medal at the funeral yesterday.

Volunteer firefighter Geoffrey Keaton was farewelled at a funeral in Sydney.

Dozens of firefighters formed a guard of honour to salute Keaton's coffin.

He and colleague Andrew O'Dwyer died on December 19 en route to a blaze.

Their fire truck hit a fallen tree.

Today the NSW RFS family farewelled one of their own, with the funeral of Geoffrey Keaton held in western Sydney earlier...

Posted by NSW Rural Fire Service on Wednesday, 1 January 2020

The bravery award was presented to young Harvey Keaton by New South Wales Fire Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison also attended the funeral.

Morrison said he was there to "remember and give thanks for the life and service of Geoff Keaton".

The NSW Rural Fire Service released photos of the ceremony, showing the toddler being held by his mother as they look at the coffin.

A mug with the message "Daddy, I love you to the moon and back!" rested next to the coffin.

Another firefighter died on Monday when high winds overturned his truck.

Since September, 18 people have died as a result of the fires. A number of people remain missing.