Debbie Bolton didn’t stepping in to pay for a stranger’s flight ticket after realising they were in trouble. Picture: Facebook/What Love Matters

Debbie Bolton had wished to remain anonymous, but after the heartwarming story went viral online, friends have unmasked her.

According to The Sun, generous Debbie is the co-founder and Global Chief Sales officer at Norwex, a home cleaning firm, and was returning from a work trip in Omaha, Nebraska, when the interaction took place.

The businesswoman stepped in to help a devastated father when check in staff told him his two-year-old girl was too old to fly for free.

According to a Facebook post, which has now been shared more than 170,000 times, on the page Love What Matters, the young father was visibly shocked and confused.

He said that he would not be able to afford to re-book the flight or pay for the $US749 ($A992) ticket.

Panicked, he then stepped to the side and began to make some calls.

Debbie Bolton’s friends said they weren’t surprised by her kind gesture. Picture: Facebook/NorwexSource:Facebook

“Hugging his daughter and grabbing his head, you could tell he was heartbroken,” the post reads.

Debbie, who was standing next to the dad at the check in counter, overheard the conversation and asked him what was wrong.

She then walked up to the counter and asked to buy the girl’s ticket.

“You know how much this ticket costs right?” the check-in staff asked her, to which she responded it was fine, and pulled out her credit card.

The person who wrote the Facebook post watched the interaction said the speechless father told her: “God Bless you!” as agents printed out the ticket.

He asked her for her name so he could repay her but she said: “Don’t worry about it”.

Susan Holt, who works with Debbie, told MailOnline she is an “amazing woman” and “wouldn’t have intended for this to be public”.

Debbie is the co-founder and Global Chief Sales officer at Norwex, a home cleaning firm. Picture: Facebook/NorwexSource:Facebook

She commented on the Facebook post: “This is an amazing story because it’s about a woman who is amazing at her very core.

“I love, admire and respect her for who she IS, not just for the business she’s built. She lives her life like this.

“She’s someone who does good in private just because it’s the right thing to do. She’s not doing it to bring fame to herself, but just to show love.

“When showing it to my son, he immediately said ‘That sounds like something Debbie would do’.”

Norwex make and sell environmentally friendly, chemical free home and personal care products.

Amy Cadora, Chief Marketing Officer for the company said in a statement: ‘We’re not surprised to hear of Debbie’s kind and generous personal gesture.

“We are very proud of her and love having her as a part of the Norwex team and as one of the Co-Founders of Norwex North America.”

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission.