TRIGGER WARNING: This post contains information about suicide, which may be triggering to some.
Every parent’s worst nightmare is losing their child. Faced with that horror, many of us would do anything in our power to bring those children back. One Australian actress is living this nightmare. Clare McCann recently used her Instagram page to share the devastating news that she had lost her son, Atreyu McCann.
The 13-year-old, who was a child actor, died by suicide. Now, Clare McCann is pleading with the public to possibly help bring her son back in the future. She’s launched a GoFundMe, seeking donations to cryogenically freeze Atreyu McCann’s body.
‘He was the brightest light in my world,’ she wrote.
On May 23, 2025, Atreyu McCann died by suicide, Clare McCann shared on Instagram, the Mirror reports. Clare wrote that her “worst nightmare” became a reality after her son endured months of bullying at school.
“He was the brightest light in my world — kind, creative, and endlessly loved” Clare McCann continued. She asked the public for privacy as they grieve a “loss that words can’t hold.”
“Thank you to everyone who has supported and loved Atreyu. We’ll share more when we’re ready. For now, please hold him in your hearts,” she continued.
She hopes future technology will help bring her son back.
When Clare McCann did return to social media, she shared an update and a request. She told followers that she’d launched a GoFundMe with the intention of raising the equivalent of $196,000 to freeze Atreyu’s body.
Through, cryopreservation, Atreyu’s body would be housed in a container at -112 degrees Fahrenheit. Her hope is that in the future, with the advancement of technology, she’ll be able to thaw out her son’s body and bring her son back to life.
Donations, Clare McCann said, would fund “immediate cryopreservation and legal transportation” as well as medical and legal services, and the creation of a trust in her son’s name to “protect his legacy.”
Additional funds will go to prevent this from happening to other families.
Clare McCann shared that any donations that exceed her goal will go toward the “national campaign for anti-bullying education and reform,” legal action “against the institutions that failed him” and to support other families affected by “systemic negligence.” She shared that she needs the donations quickly because the body can only be preserved for a limited time after death.
‘… help us preserve our beloved Atreyu and give his life the dignity,’ she wrote.
“Please help us preserve our beloved Atreyu and give his life the dignity and future that his school stole from him,” she wrote. She encouraged her followers to “Share this campaign. Tell his story. And stand with us. We only have 7 days. Please act now.” At the time of publication, Clare McCann has raised around $5,000 of her goal.
Note: If you or any of your loved ones are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can always reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling 988. They are available 24/7 by phone or online chat.
