A US Navy commander was tearfully reunited with his 10-year-old son when he surprised the boy at his school after almost eight months away in South Africa.

Jesse McGill, 38, from Jacksonville, Florida, crept into the classroom before his overjoyed son Kingston, 10, let out a high-pitched scream of 'daddy' when he spotted him.

Father and son both burst into tears as the little boy ran into his dad's arms. 

The previous eight months had been tough for Jesse, stationed in West Africa with the U.S. Navy, as his son has arteriovenous malformation (AVM) a rare medical condition that causes vessels in his brain to tangle.

Left: Footage shows Kingston in the class room with his back to the door when his dad Jesse walks in and surprises him at Seven Bridges School in Florida. Right: The dad and son embrace and both burst into tearsKingston has already survived three aneurysms which have left his parents on edge as even the slightest headache could turn out to be something life-threatening.

Being away from his son was extremely difficult for Lt.

Commander Jesse so he was determined to make their reunion, on August 14, very special. 

The footage starts with Kingston in a classroom at Seven Bridges School in Orange Park, Jacksonville, with his back to the door when his dad walks in and he leaps into his arms. 

They are both emotional as they are reunited at the school. Kingston let out a high-pitch scream of 'daddy' before bursting into tears

Jesse and Kingston (left) with their family. Jesse had been on deployment in west Africa for eight months 

Kingston has arteriovenous malformation (AVM) a rare medical condition that causes vessels in his brain to tangle. Pictured: Jesse and Kingston in hospital togetherThey embrace and both start crying as the others in the room look on at the heart-warming scene.   

Jesse, who one day hopes to teach in elementary school, said of his deployment overseas: 'The toughest part was knowing I couldn't be there to reassure him and take care of him, that my wife would have to be the only one there.

So far in his life Kingston (pictured in hospital) has survived three aneurysms leaving his parents on edge as even the slightest headache could turn out to be something life-threatening

Jesse (pictured carrying Kingston in hospital) said he felt full of pure joy and relief when they were reunited 

'I had never missed a surgery or procedure. I was so worried about crying before I even saw him and the thought of how much he may had grown or how much he had changed.

'When we reunited, I was full of pure joy and relief. I felt so relieved that I was finally there to protect him again and that he wouldn't have to face any challenges without me.'