HEART-WRENCHING tributes from around the world have gone out to a Newcastle toddler turned YouTube sensation, who has died suddenly of two strands of the common cold.

Parents Mick and Kerryn Tippett said despite their unspeakable grief they have taken heart that in her three short years their daughter Maddie has already touched many lives through her starring role in the heartwarming and hilarious YouTube video which has attracted more than nine million views in the past two years.

media_camera Worldwide ttributes ... Maddie Tippett / Picture: Supplied

“Part of me feels that Maddie was meant to change the world and I feel sad that she didn’t get the chance,’’ her mum said through tears yesterday.

But then I think in 10 years’ time someone will be having a bad day at the office and sit down and click on that video and it will cheer them up. That will be her legacy.’’

media_camera Maddie Tippett who became an internet sensation after her dad Mick Tippett posted a video of him quizzing her over which parent she prefers / Picture: Supplied

The video came about when Mr Tippett was going to put together a photo montage of Maddie’s first birthday for her maternal grandparents in Perth. But he decided to quiz her instead on camera about that one question all new parents secretly want to know: “who’s your favourite, Dad or Mum?’’.

What followed was a hilarious series of failed attempts as Mr Tippett pulls every parenting card in the pack — including the promise of a pony — to trick Maddie into saying he was her favourite only for her to repeatedly reply “Mum’’.

media_camera Maddie and her mother on a trip to Hollywood / Picture: Supplied media_camera Maddie Tippett / Picture: Supplied

The clip went viral after he posted it in January 2012, attracting millions of YouTube hits and featuring on morning television shows around the world.

Maddie, 3, had “cold-like symptoms’’ last week but the couple put it down to the usual childhood “sniffles’’.

Mr Tippett said when Maddie had had colds in the past she always remained “a little cheeky’’ so when she was still “a bit listless’’ on Monday they took her to a GP who diagnosed her with a virus and told them they would just have to ride it out.

But as her condition deteriorated overnight they rushed her to John Hunter Hospital but she tragically succumbed to what doctors discovered was not one, but two strands of the common cold, on Tuesday evening.

You touched sould with your infectious smile and wonderful, adorable personality

media_camera Maddie Tippett and her dad Mick / Picture: Supplied

One of the viruses got into her heart, which Mr Tippett said just “conked out’’ as she lay in the arms of her grieving parents. “She happened to have these two types of viruses and the way they attacked her system ... it was just too much,’’ Mrs Tippett said.

The couple said they have been overwhelmed by the messages of support and condolences from not only family and friends but “people we’ve never met” overseas.

One friend, John Palmer, posted on Facebook: “In your three short years you touched the souls of thousands of people with your infectious smile and wonderful, adorable personality.”