The sleeping dad photo going viral for the most gorgeous reason.

A photo of a father sleeping beneath the hospital cot of his toddler son has resonated with more than 17,000 people around the globe.

In the touching picture, exhausted dad Andre Palmer is shown curled up on the floor beneath his son’s raised crib on the hospital floor.

Amy Palmer, Andre’s wife, shared the photo to Facebook on Tuesday, after their child Andre Jesse (AJ) suffered an asthma attack.

“This is a picture of a hard working man dedicated to his family,’ Mrs Palmer wrote in the caption.

“After working all night third shift, he’s right here with his son who is in the hospital.”

Mrs Palmer, who lives with her family in the US state of Pennsylvania, added: “He’s so tired but he’s here!! Father of the year award goes to Andre Palmer!!! I love you more than words baby.”

According to ABC, Andre had worked the graveyard shift, from 11pm to 7am, before visiting the hospital.

By Friday night, the photo had truly gone viral -- having gathered more than 17,000 likes and more than 2800 shares.

Following the overwhelming popularity of the photo on social media, Mrs Palmer posted another Facebook message on Thursday, saying she was overwhelmed by all the kind people who have reached out expressing appreciation for the photos.

"It was early in the morning and Andre Palmer just got done working third shift and dropping our daughter off at daycare. He was literally exhausted himself," she wrote.

"I took the picture because I thought what a selfless thing for my husband to do. He could have went home after work, he could have asked me to get up. I would have never imagined that it would have touched so many people."

She added that she took the photo because she felt it "spoke volumes about the good person, husband, and father he truly is."

She added that little AJ had been discharged from hospital, and is now recovering.

"Our son is doing much better and is now at home resting," she said.

Mrs Palmer told US news outlet ABC that her husband does everything he can for their family.

"You just take it for granted, and then something like this happens and you see how much it touches so many people," she said.

A round of applause for awesome dads, people.

Photos: Facebook/Amy Palmer