When Steve Menshon found a message in bottle during a seaside stroll, the last thing he expected to read was heart-wrenching letter from a young boy to his dead best friend.

The 54-year-old opened a glass jar on his local beach in Indialantic, Florida to find an emotional note from fifth-grader Jonathan to his classmate Daniel, who had recently passed away.

The letter read: 'Dear Daniel I'm really sorry that you passed away and if you were alive me and you will be playing football, soccer and basketball.'

Moving: When Steve Menshon found a message in bottle during a seaside stroll, the last thing he expected to read was heart-wrenching letter from a young boy to his dead friend

Poignant: The 54-year-old opened a glass jar on his local beach in Indialantic, Florida to find an emotional note from fifth-grader Jonathon to his best friend, Daniel, who had recently passed away

'You were my best friend,' it continues, 'and our favorite song was [Disney Channel star] Austin Moon and I hope you fun with Jesus. From your best friend Jonathan Torres.'

Mr Menshon was so moved by the note that he posted a picture of it on Facebook with his own message for the youngster.

He wrote: 'Let me tell you what a strong little man you are for writing your best friend that letter.. You show so much love in your heart way beyond your years...

'Your parents, friends, teachers, myself, and all of my friends who know I found your letter are so proud of you.. Daniel is a lucky guy to have you as a best friend.. I'm so sorry he passed...'

'Jonothon, your bottle, with your letter to your best friend, is the most beautiful thing I have ever found.'

Mr Menshon added that he would throw the bottle back into the sea with his own message for somebody else to find, before signing off:

'You're a good man, Jonothon. I'm hoping maybe, just maybe, the world can see the love in one fifth graders heart, and we can, one by one, all get along.. Peace, little man!'

The was shared nearly 2,000 times by moved Facebook users.