The toddler son of a volunteer firefighter who died tackling Australia’s bushfires has been presented with his father’s medal for bravery at his funeral.

Harvey Keaton, aged 19 months, stood sucking his dummy as his father’s posthumous medal was pinned to his miniature New South Wales Rural Fire Service shirt during Thursday’s service in Buxton, Sydney.

Geoffrey Keaton, 32, deputy captain of Horsley Park Rural Fire Brigade, was killed alongside his colleague Andrew O’Dwyer, 36, when a tree hit their truck, causing it to roll off the road on 19 December.

The volunteers, whose babies were born just two days apart, had been travelling in convoy to the scene of bushfires near the town.

Three other firefighters were also injured during the incident but managed to free themselves from the wreckage.

Toddler awarded medal in memory of father who died fighting wildfires Show all 12 1 /12 Toddler awarded medal in memory of father who died fighting wildfires Toddler awarded medal in memory of father who died fighting wildfires Jess Hayes and Harvey Keaton, fiancee and son of Geoffrey Keaton, 32, a volunteer firefighter at Horsley Park Rural Fire Brigade in New South Wales, Australia, who was killed on his way to tackle wildfires on 19 December, 2019. Mr Keaton, a deputy captain, died alongside volunteer firefighter Andrew O’Dwyer, 36, when a tree hit their truck, causing it to roll off the road. Horsley Park Rural Fire Brigade Toddler awarded medal in memory of father who died fighting wildfires Horsley Park Rural Fire Brigade Toddler awarded medal in memory of father who died fighting wildfires Horsley Park Rural Fire Brigade Toddler awarded medal in memory of father who died fighting wildfires Horsley Park Rural Fire Brigade Toddler awarded medal in memory of father who died fighting wildfires New South Wales Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons presents Geoffrey Keaton's posthumous bravery medal to his 19-month-old son Harvey Keaton. Horsley Park Rural Fire Brigade Toddler awarded medal in memory of father who died fighting wildfires Horsley Park Rural Fire Brigade Toddler awarded medal in memory of father who died fighting wildfires Horsley Park Rural Fire Brigade Toddler awarded medal in memory of father who died fighting wildfires Horsley Park Rural Fire Brigade Toddler awarded medal in memory of father who died fighting wildfires Andrew O’Dwyer New South Wales Rural Fire Brigade Toddler awarded medal in memory of father who died fighting wildfires Horsley Park Rural Fire Brigade Toddler awarded medal in memory of father who died fighting wildfires Geoffrey Keaton with his son Harvey Horsley Park Rural Fire Brigade Toddler awarded medal in memory of father who died fighting wildfires Andrew O’Dwyer with his daughter Horsley Park Rural Fire Brigade

The medal was presented to Harvey by Shane Fitzsimmons, Commissioner of New South Wales Rural Fire Service.

Australian prime minister Scott Morrison also attended the funeral.

Geoffrey Keaton, 32, deputy captain of Horsley Park Rural Fire Brigade, who was killed on his way to tackle wildfires in New South Wales, Australia, on 19 December, 2019, pictured with his son Harvey. (Horsley Park Rural Fire Brigade)

Andrew O'Dwyer, 36, a volunteer firefighter with Horsley Park Rural Fire Brigade, who was killed on his way to tackle wildfires in New South Wales, Australia, on 19 December, 2019. (Horsley Park Rural Fire Brigade)

Photos released by the fire service showed dozens of firefighters forming a guard of honour as the hearse carrying Mr Keaton’s coffin arrived at Pinegrove Memorial Park.

In another image, Harvey is seen being held by his mother, Mr Keaton’s fiancée Jess Hayes, as they look at a photo of the firefighter placed on top of his coffin.

Volunteer firefighter Samuel McPaul, 28, from Morven Rural Fire Brigade, was also killed while on duty on Monday when the fire truck he was in rolled over in “extreme winds”.

He had been expecting his first child with wife Megan, due in May.

Authorities say 381 homes have been destroyed on the southern coast of New South Wales this week, while 18 people have died since the fires began burning.