A heartwarming picture uploaded onto Reddit four days ago has touched people around the world – notching up almost 4million views and thousands of comments in the process. 

The snap, taken in Vancouver, was published under a headline which simply says: 'Dads'.

It shows a smartly dressed man walking the city's streets soaking wet. Over a small, t-shirt-clad boy with a brightly-coloured lion rucksack on his back – a child presumed to be his son – he holds an umbrella to shelter him from the heavy rain.

Understandably, the photograph has sparked a social media storm since being shared.

One description of it reads: "My dad wasn't around for me as a child, so I've got no role model. Can I be a good dad to my kid?"

While another commenter points out: "But you see, dad is doing more than keeping him dry. He's teaching him how to put others before himself."

A third user states: "You're the only father this kid is going to have, so do your absolute best every second of the day."