A father of three who lost his life trying to save a five-year-old boy after the fishing boat they were in capsized is being remember as a "hero".
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Saadallah El Kourouche's body was found on Sunday afternoon after the young boy's body was found in the fishing boat earlier in the day.
The double tragedy came after a massive water search for the pair who were missing after the boat they were in overturned about 6pm on Saturday night.
They were with another two men, on of whom was the boy's father, when they left Bellambi ramp around 1.30pm.
After a two-hour search, the two men - aged 23 and 31 - were winched out of the water by helicopter and taken to Wollongong Hospital.
The search for the other two continued throughout the night and resumed on Sunday.
Mr El Kourouche's wife Samah has told the Mercury her husband was the "definition of a hero" and he would do "anything for anyone".
"Saadallah was a very humble man and was good to everyone," she said. "He would help anyone.
"He loved his three kids so much and he worked hard to create a good life for me and the kids."
Mrs El Kourouche said Saadallah, 28, had recently started a skip bin business and he loved having family movie nights and cooking food on the barbeque for his daughter.
She said her family was "hurting a lot" and she could not "remember what he last told me".
"I am still in shock," Mrs El Kourouche said. "He was loved by so many people."
Mr El Kourouche's sister Hayat said after speaking to one of the men on the boat, she knew her brother had "died a hero".
"He told me Saadallah was holding the boy in his arms as he was screaming, 'Daddy I'm cold'," she said.
"Then my brother called out to the father, 'don't worry I have got him', but then a wave hit and the boat tipped and they were separated.
"We have really lost a good one.
"My brother had the best energy and he would light up a room whenever he walked into it. If someone was feeling sad, he could always make them smile.
"He brought out the best in people. He was my best friend."
A tribute of flowers laid by family, friends and local strangers remains at Bulli headland.
Ms El Kourouche said she had spoken to the five-year-old boy's family who were in mourning. The family did not wish to speak to the media as they were grieving the loss of the little boy.
The cause of the boat capsizing, the level of navigation skills of those on board and whether lifejackets had been worn will form part of the police investigation.
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