David Koch has fought back tears on breakfast television after sharing a personal story ahead of Father's Day this weekend. 

The Sunrise host opened up about losing his father in a segment aimed at encouraging people to reach out to their loved ones before it's too late. 

"My dad was my hero," Kochie told Sunrise viewers in the pre-recorded segment.

"He made me who I am. I adored him. Everyone says, oh, you're a grown man, you should just get over it. But I fell apart when he died." 

Koch's father, Dean Koch, collapsed after a game of golf in 2009. He passed away about a week later as a result of a brain bleed. 

Dean once played footy for the Port Adelaide reserves and became a CEO after taking night classes to qualify as an accountant. Kochie said his dad taught him the importance of hard work, as well having fun. 

Despite being a strong fatherly figure, Dean wasn't afraid to dress up in whacky costumes and sing for his grandchildren.

"I was lucky because he was in a coma and just a couple of hours before he died I had time with him, just him and I," Kochie said.

"I said what I needed to say. I still talk to him today, [I] often feel a presence. Society expects blokes to be tough and just get on, but I wasn't tough." 

When the camera cut back to Kochie, the breakfast host was visibly upset. 

"That was powerful," co-host Sam Armytage said. "That made me upset, just watching that."