Disclaimer: This article contains distressing topics such as suicide and child loss. Reader discretion is advised.

Grief comes in many forms.

For one Sydney actress, grief comes in an emotional and unconventional plea.

In a heartbreaking story, Clare McCann pleaded for help after the tragic loss of her son, Atreyu.

The 13-year-old boy's life was cut short last week.

According to McCann, her son was relentlessly bullied at his school, which drove him to take his own life.

Clare McCann shared one of her precious moments with her son online. Image Credit: Instagram/Clare McCann

In the midst of unimaginable grief, McCann is fighting for a slim chance to give her son a future despite his passing.

She has been looking for ways to have her son's body cryogenically preserved.

McCann's story and proposal captured the attention of Australians everywhere, not just for the tragedy but for the hope she's clinging to.

Clare McCann's grief was compounded by her frustration with Australia's school system.

She claimed that despite months of bullying, no students were suspended or expelled for their treatment of Atreyu.

While the Education Department insisted the school tried to help her son, Clare stated that it did 'nothing'.

Her public plea was not just for her son but also for children and families facing similar issues.

As an actress, Clare McCann is no stranger to the camera.

Yet, in a recent interview at her son's favourite destination, Maroubra Beach, she described his passing as one of the hardest moments she has faced.

'I just want to be with him any way I can, and so I'm placing my bets everywhere. I'm doing everything I can,' she said.

McCann believed that with advanced medical science, there could be a way to bring her 'intelligent, kind, sweet' boy back to life.

'Maybe it might not ever happen, but if there's a chance, you know he deserves this chance,' she emotionally shared in an interview.

The only cryogenics facility in Australia, Southern Cryonics, has agreed to McCann's plans for preservation.

Peter Tsolakides, a representative from the facility, shared his thoughts about the proposal.

'One hundred per cent sure, we're not certain. No guarantees, but there's a reasonable probability,' Tsolakides stated.

It's a leap of faith, but for Clare McCann, it's a leap worth taking.

Learn more about McCann's plans here:

Source: 7 News Australia/YouTube​

Cryogenic preservation is both a complex and costly process.

Clare McCann has a seven-day window to preserve her son's body.

Meanwhile, the whole process costs about $300,000.

McCann has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise the necessary funds, hoping that the community will rally around her in this desperate time.

She also stated that any money raised above the target will go towards a national anti-bullying campaign.

The extra money should be able to cover legal action and support for other families affected by similar tragedies.

Cryonics is still in its infancy, and the idea of bringing someone back from a frozen state remains in the realm of speculation.

However, for Clare and other parents who have lost children, hope is a powerful force.

Clare is also calling for greater accountability in schools, more robust anti-bullying measures, and better support for families facing a similar crisis.

Key Takeaways

• Sydney actress Clare McCann made an emotional plea to have her late son Atreyu's body cryogenically frozen following his death.
• McCann claimed that the school did nothing to intervene, and no students were suspended or expelled over the bullying.
• Australia's only cryogenics facility has agreed to try preserving Atreyu's body, with a GoFundMe launched to raise $300,000 for the procedure.
• Any extra funds raised will go towards a national anti-bullying campaign, legal action, and support for other families impacted by similar situations.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please remember that help is available. Lifeline (13 11 14) and Beyondblue (1300 22 4636) offer support. Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) is also available for younger Australians dealing with mental health concerns and ideations of suicide.

 

[JenH23]

Really heartbroken to hear about the loss of her son but if he was being bullied relentlessly and the school knew about it and did nothing why on earth did she not arrange to have him schooled elsewhere? She is obviously not short of money so could have made other arrangements. I know that sounds harsh but if I was a "known actress" I would have made such a fuss about the bullying, got out there and named and shamed the school and carried on until they did something.

 

[novezar]

Hi, JenH23.
I wholeheartedly agree with your comments.
Many others would be of the same thoughts.
As far as "Cryogenics" is concerned, raises one "?" i.e. Is there going to be difference between a natural death & death by suicide to include other adverse unnatural deaths ?
With a "Whole" body, I presume not much at all.

I reckon that "Cryogenics" is a "Bridge To Far".

 

[Suzanne rose]

I feel so sorry for her, and her heart break.

I definitely would have taken him out of that school .

As for Cryogenics I think the whole thing is nothing but hopeful thinking. Once your heart stops and your body goes through the the whole death process The postmortem stages include pallor mortis (skin pales), algor mortis (body cools), rigor mortis (muscles stiffen), and livor mortis (blood pools and discolors). This happens with in 2 hours.
Then how could they ever bring someone back to life.

I think she is better off using this money to stop it happening to another child.
Schools need to take action against bullies including school counselling

 

[BellaB18]

I seen this story on the news. First off l am heartbroken this dear child took his own life. My heart and condolences go out to his mother and family and friends.
I don't believe in this cryogenics stuff. Every one to their own. I understand the mother just cannot let he child go. But please how can anyone expect people to put their hard earned into a go fund me up to $300,000 for something that most likely will never work. If by some miracle people did come back to life the mother will be well gone to heaven.
I had to wonder, why the mother didn't remove her son from the school and put him in another school. She wasn't getting any help from the school he attended. If that had been my child he would have been taken away very quick smart.
So many people have been in this poor mother's position and it is beyond devastating but the best thing would be to lay this child to eternal peace and keep his memory alive, by fighting towards the changes needed in schools to stop this soul destroying bullying.
My son was bullied all through primary school by one boy. I was always concerned about this happening as my son was born with a cleft lip and palate.
From day one. We would ask no one is picking on you love? No. Every night before school would go back after the holidays he could not sleep. Years later l now know it was anxiety. He got through primary school. Started High school and one afternoon he came home upset and told me. The same boy who picked on him at primary school was at the High school and started on him again. He finally broke and told me. I was devastated he didn't tell me years earlier. I got on the phone immediately much to my son's horror to the school's head Mistress. She ripped strips off this boy the next day. He never spoke to my son again. Sad to say the damage was done. He is coming up 40 next month and still it affects him.
I think bullying is a lot worse now. If there had been social media back when my son was at school we may have lost him.
Sadly with the constant questions of. What are those scars from? He has deep mental pain still. He has a moustache to cover his scars. So sad why secondary school seems to bring out the worst in some kids and they feel the need to bully a child to the point the child sees no way but to end their life. More needs to be done in every school to stop bullying.
Please reach out for help if needed. Everyone's life is worth fighting for.
Love to all Vicki

 

[June E]

I don’t think there’s enough known about cryogenics.
As to bullying it breaks my heart what some kids go through at the hands of these young thugs and something more needs to be done to stop it.
Teachers have enough to do I know but surely they have an idea of who are the bullies ? And who are being bullied ? If so there should be an investigation into it and if proved the bullies should be dealt with harshly ! It has to be stopped.

 

[SGH]

My sympathies go out to the family, but, like the previous comments, once you knew you son was being bullied, why didn't you do something about it? My son was king hit in primary school and the mother of the child who did it in front of teachers claimed that they were being racist for suspending their child and not mine. Mine had only been at the school for a month and even though he was big for his age, he was a gentle child, always thinking of others.
When he went to high school he started jigging school and when I found out he told me that the boy who had hit him in primary school had older brothers who were now ganging up on him and that they threatened him with knives. This is over 30 years ago, long before metal detectors and schools' having assigned police presence. I went to the principal and asked what we should do, not demand "what are they going to do". The parents once again raised the racist card, and we know how well that goes, an AVO was out of the question, so he changed schools no problems at the new school at all, there was one incident with the older bothers on a train, however, the new friends he had made at his new school stepped up and asked these bullies if there was a problem, they backed down real quick when these boys of all nationalities made it clear that if anything was to happen to my son, that they would be the first ones they would come looking for.

 

[Still Ebby]

After moving l had to put my son Michael into a school that l had heard was a bit rough but l had no choice after phoning several schools and getting nowhere. Michael was bullied and came home upset .
l complained but nothing was done. Anyway in the end it was the headmaster that was complaining to me about my sons conduct and him getting into fights and they wanted to expel him. l was at that school real quick and told the headmaster Michael was never like that before he went to their school and was leaving anyway.
As for freezing someone to bring back to life later defiantly not that would be like playing God and her expecting others to pay for it doesn't she have money of her own?

 

[Miss Chris]

I can empathise with this lady….. how on earth does one get over the death of a child under those awful circumstances. I think in some ways it must be harder to lose a child when they are young……they need you more and depend on you to take care of them and it must be so difficult to bury them and think of them lying in the cold ground. Of course, everyone is different in how they cope and go forward in life without their child, but I think everyone must think, at times, how much they would give to have them back……and this mum is going a step further in hoping she can have her boy back……it’s not realistic in any sense any she may come to realise that in time, when she’s ready to let him go. I just think that she is desperate to keep him, in hope. I, personally think that what she wants to do is wrong, but who am I to tell a mum how to grieve. Crowd funding has become almost the norm now as the way to raise money when in need, I don’t particularly like the idea because it’s an easy opportunity for the unscrupulous to take advantage of other people’s generosity ….but again, who am I to judge her….. …..As for the bullying that her son endured, someone should have noticed something wrong, a child can’t go through that and not show any signs that something was wrong, even in his demeanour….. but there have been many reported instances where a child has suffered bullying at school and committed suicide, and young children too…..in many of these cases the parents knew about the bullying yet maybe didn’t quite understand the seriousness of how badly there child was affected…….It’s very common for others to say what they would have done, but it’s always after the fact and not really very helpful. Bullying needs to stop, and for that to happen there needs to be severe consequences for the bullies…..If they bully another child badly enough for that child to suicide, and they get away with it…..They will just target another child and bully them badly, just to see if they can make the same thing happen again. If any money is made, perhaps at least some of it could go towards stopping the bullying for good………I think bullying is a crime in the same way that assault is…it’s the same thing by a different name…..

 

[Clancieblue]

I feel so sorry for her, and her heart break.

I definitely would have taken him out of that school .

As for Cryogenics I think the whole thing is nothing but hopeful thinking. Once your heart stops and your body goes through the the whole death process The postmortem stages include pallor mortis (skin pales), algor mortis (body cools), rigor mortis (muscles stiffen), and livor mortis (blood pools and discolors). This happens with in 2 hours.
Then how could they ever bring someone back to life.

I think she is better off using this money to stop it happening to another child.
Schools need to take action against bullies including school counselling

Plus, how did he take his life, what other damage did he do to himself.
I think this is a business that plays on grief to make millions.

 

[BellaB18]

My sympathies go out to the family, but, like the previous comments, once you knew you son was being bullied, why didn't you do something about it? My son was king hit in primary school and the mother of the child who did it in front of teachers claimed that they were being racist for suspending their child and not mine. Mine had only been at the school for a month and even though he was big for his age, he was a gentle child, always thinking of others.
When he went to high school he started jigging school and when I found out he told me that the boy who had hit him in primary school had older brothers who were now ganging up on him and that they threatened him with knives. This is over 30 years ago, long before metal detectors and schools' having assigned police presence. I went to the principal and asked what we should do, not demand "what are they going to do". The parents once again raised the racist card, and we know how well that goes, an AVO was out of the question, so he changed schools no problems at the new school at all, there was one incident with the older bothers on a train, however, the new friends he had made at his new school stepped up and asked these bullies if there was a problem, they backed down real quick when these boys of all nationalities made it clear that if anything was to happen to my son, that they would be the first ones they would come looking for.

Oh that's so dreadful, a child being king hit at primary school. What a dreadful boy to do such a thing and of course have the brothers back him up. Please the racist card, one gets sick of this excuse like the mental health card.
Thank heavens you had the good sense to change schools. So glad your son had some awesome mates from all different ethnic backgrounds have his back.
Coward behaviour. In form of bullying.
I can only wonder if this mum had changed schools her son may have still been here. So very tragic.
Kind regards Vicki

 

[Littleboy8]

Sad about her son but what a waste of money let the kid R.I.P. for heavens sake.

 

[7777]

My condolences to the grieving mother and may her dear child rest in peace.
Bullying is an issue that too many teachers and principals sadly turn a blind eye to.
My daughter was continuously bullied because she was soft spoken, kind, generous and an easy target.
My daughter would cry every morning as she knew she would be bullied that day at school. I spoke with her teachers and principal and basically was told that, it's a tough world out there and that my daughter needs to learn how to suck it up and stop being a tatle tail. When I saw that my daughter was not safe there, I re-enrolled her into another school. Once again, but this time a gang of girls, would push, shove, throw things into my daughter's face, with the ring leader of the gang, pulling my daughter's hair and punching her randomly when the teachers were not present.
Instead of changing school, I now went to the courts and applied for an AVO. After the judge had heard what was happening with my daughter and heard testimonials from witnesses, the AVO was granted. The principal was not very pleased with my decision to take out an AVO against the bully, as this matter of the AVO was reported to the Department of Education.
From that day onwards, my daughter was never again bullied and found herself in the company of good friends, who praised her for putting a stop to the bully by taking out the AVO. Infact that bully never bullied anyone else at the school ever again.

 

[Littleboy8]

I’ve never heard of this so called well known actress I’m afraid has anyone on here or just me

 

[BellaB18]

My condolences to the grieving mother and may her dear child rest in peace.
Bullying is an issue that too many teachers and princiysadly turn a blind eye to.
My daughter was continuously bullied because she was soft spoken, kind, generous and an easy target.
My daughter would cry every morning as she knew she would be bullied that day at school. I spoke with her teachers and principal and basically was told that, it's a tough world out there and that my daughter needs to learn how to suck it up and stop being a tatle tail. When I saw that my daughter was not safe there, I re-enrolled her into another school. Once again, but this time a gang of girls, would push, shove, throw things into my daughter's face, with the ring leader of the gang, pulling my daughter's hair and punching her randomly when the teachers were not present.
Instead of changing school, I now went to the courts and applied for an AVO. After the judge had heard what was happening with my daughter and heard testimonials from witnesses, the AVO was granted. The principal was not very pleased with my decision to take out an AVO against the bully, as this matter of the AVO was reported to the Department of Education.
From that day onwards, my daughter was never again bullied and found herself in the company good friends, who praised her for putting a stop to the bully by taking out the AVO. Infact that bully never bullied anyone else at the school.

You go what a terrific parent you are. No child should have to suck it up. Disgrace the staff at that school.
Kind regards Vicki

 

[Miss Chris]

I seen this story on the news. First off l am heartbroken this dear child took his own life. My heart and condolences go out to his mother and family and friends.
I don't believe in this cryogenics stuff. Every one to their own. I understand the mother just cannot let he child go. But please how can anyone expect people to put their hard earned into a go fund me up to $300,000 for something that most likely will never work. If by some miracle people did come back to life the mother will be well gone to heaven.
I had to wonder, why the mother didn't remove her son from the school and put him in another school. She wasn't getting any help from the school he attended. If that had been my child he would have been taken away very quick smart.
So many people have been in this poor mother's position and it is beyond devastating but the best thing would be to lay this child to eternal peace and keep his memory alive, by fighting towards the changes needed in schools to stop this soul destroying bullying.
My son was bullied all through primary school by one boy. I was always concerned about this happening as my son was born with a cleft lip and palate.
From day one. We would ask no one is picking on you love? No. Every night before school would go back after the holidays he could not sleep. Years later l now know it was anxiety. He got through primary school. Started High school and one afternoon he came home upset and told me. The same boy who picked on him at primary school was at the High school and started on him again. He finally broke and told me. I was devastated he didn't tell me years earlier. I got on the phone immediately much to my son's horror to the school's head Mistress. She ripped strips off this boy the next day. He never spoke to my son again. Sad to say the damage was done. He is coming up 40 next month and still it affects him.
I think bullying is a lot worse now. If there had been social media back when my son was at school we may have lost him.
Sadly with the constant questions of. What are those scars from? He has deep mental pain still. He has a moustache to cover his scars. So sad why secondary school seems to bring out the worst in some kids and they feel the need to bully a child to the point the child sees no way but to end their life. More needs to be done in every school to stop bullying.
Please reach out for help if needed. Everyone's life is worth fighting for.
Love to all Vicki

I’m sorry that the trauma of victimisation at school at an early age, has stayed with him all this time. There are people who are saying that they would have done this or that, take the child out of school, but your story proves a point that parents often don’t understand how the depths of the bullying or victimisation affects the child…..But then you find out later on, when your child is ready to tell you, and it breaks your heart that you didn’t know everything at the time. and you beat yourself up about it whenever you think about it…..Then it’s not just the child who suffers, you suffer too….Junior school children are bad enough but secondary school bullying is on another level entirely and personally I think it should be made criminal with severe consequences ..Bullying is assault, there’s no difference between the two, doesn’t matter if an adult or pre-teen or teen does it while at school, can be verbal or physical, it’s all counted as assault……

 

[BellaB18]

I’m sorry that the trauma of victimisation at school at an early age, has stayed with him all this time. There are people who are saying that they would have done this or that, take the child out of school, but your story proves a point that parents often don’t understand how the depths of the bullying or victimisation affects the child…..But then you find out later on, when your child is ready to tell you, and it breaks your heart that you didn’t know everything at the time. and you beat yourself up about it whenever you think about it…..Then it’s not just the child who suffers, you suffer too….Junior school children are bad enough but secondary school bullying is on another level entirely and personally I think it should be made criminal with severe consequences ..Bullying is assault, there’s no difference between the two, doesn’t matter if an adult or pre-teen or teen does it while at school, can be verbal or physical, it’s all counted as assault……

Well said. I agree with everything you have said. Thank you for your kind words .
Kind regards Vicki

 

[Miss Chris]

Well said. I agree with everything you have said. Thank you for your kind words .
Kind regards Vicki

You’re very welcome

 

[7777]

You go what a terrific parent you are. No child should have to suck it up. Disgrace the staff at that school.
Kind regards Vicki

Thankyou for your words of support, God bless,