Clare McCann, from Australia, has taken to social media in a desperate bid to raise the funds before Friday
A heartbroken mom is pleading with the public to help her raise $195,000 to freeze the body of her 13-year-old son – but how exactly does it all work and what does the law say about it?
Australian actor Clare McCann, who appeared and wrote Blog Party and ClubLife, took to Instagram on Saturday (May 24) to share the devastating news that she had lost the ‘brightest light’ in her world.
Schoolboy Atreyu McCann tragically took his own life on Friday, with his mom alleging it was down to bullying in the playground – claiming he suffered a ‘horrendous amounts of bullying’ and was ‘let down by the schooling system’.
Now, the grieving mom faces a race against time as she wishes to have his body ‘cryogenically preserved’, and has set a GoFundMe page up to help her do so.
Atreyu McCann tragically died by suicide on Friday (GoFundMe)
What has Clare McCann said about preserving her son’s body?
Speaking on the page, she wrote: “I’m urgently raising $300,000 [Australian dollars – which equates to roughly $195,000] to cryogenically preserve his body within the next 7 days — or the opportunity for him to live again will be lost forever.”
Man’s remains identified on ‘serial killer’s property’
McCann went on to share how her family ‘only have one chance left’ to cryogenically preserve Atreyu – with the deadline of seven days running out by this Friday (May 30).
“If we miss this window, we lose the chance for any future revival that science may offer. This is about hope and justice. Refusing to let my son’s story end in silence,” she shared on her GoFundMe page.
“Please help us preserve our beloved Atreyu and give his life the dignity and future that his school stole from him. Share this campaign. Tell his story. And stand with us.
“We only have 7 days. Please act now.”
While in her most recent Instagram post, McCann detailed how her ‘worst nightmare has come to life‘, and that she is now ‘humbly beg[ing]’ her followers to help preserve the youngster.
Atreyu’s grieving mom Clare McCann is desperately trying to raise funding to have her son’s corpse cyrogenically preserved (Instagram/atreyumccannofficial)
How does cryogenic preservation work?
Cryogenic freezing is a process in which bodies are stored at temperatures of around -240°F [-150°C] to help preserve a person’s cells, organs and tissues, in the hope that in the future advances in medical technology will be so great that people could be revived.
Corpses are preserved in a container filled with liquid nitrogen, with the bodies first coated in cryoprotectants, such as glycerol, which is administered to prevent ice crystal damage, and drained of blood.
The blood is replaced with a chemical protectant which helps to partially replace the water in the cells.
Is cryogenic preservation legal in Australia?
Cryopreservation is currently legal in Australia, and is only illegal in France and the Canadian state of British Columbia. It’s important to note though that France does allow freezing for fertility purposes, such as freezing eggs.
In terms of preserving a body, the law does state that a person must be legally dead before freezing begins.
While the storage of the bodies that have undergone the process would need to be authorized under public health laws of the different territories in Australia.
Clare often took her son on the red carpet (Instagram/@claremccannofficial)
What have Atreyu’s school authorities said?
Deborah Summerhayes, NSW Deputy Secretary of Public Schools, said in a statement the department was ‘devastated to learn of the death of a student from a Sydney high school‘.
“The Department of Education is providing counselling and other wellbeing support to students and staff who require it,” she told UNILAD in a statement.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Prue Car also commented on Atreyu’s death, saying: “The death of Atreyu McCann is a tragic loss for his family, loved ones and the whole school community.
“No parent should go through the distress of losing a child in this way, and my deepest sympathies are with the McCann family at this difficult time.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.Featured Image Credit: Instagram/claremccannofficial
Topics: Mental Health, GoFundMe, Australia
Published 11:26 26 May 2025 GMT+1
Actor whose son tragically took his own life now raising $195,000 to ‘cryogenically preserve’ his body
Clare McCann is hoping to give her son, Atreyu, a ‘second chance to live’
Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide, which some readers may find distressing.
An Australian actor and mother is asking for help to raise funds to ‘cryogenically preserve’ the body of her 13-year-old son after he died by suicide.
Clare McCann, who appeared on shows such as Blog Party and Clublife, shared the news of her son Atreyu’s death in a post on Instagram on May 24.
In the post, the mom described Atreyu as being the ‘brightest light’ in her world, saying he was ‘kind, creative, and endlessly loved’.
“Right now, we are grieving a loss that words can’t hold. Please give us time and space as we process this unimaginable pain,” the mom added, noting the family would ‘share more when [they’re] ready’.
Atreyu was just 13-years-old when he took his own life, though Clare wrote that her son’s life had been ‘stolen’.
Clare said her son had been targeted by bullies (Instagram/@claremccannofficial)
Clare McCann says her son was bullied
In another post following the announcement of her son’s death, the actor said that Atreyu’s decision to end his life was ‘not his fault’.
She alleged he suffered ‘horrendous amounts of bullying’ prior to his death, and claimed he was ‘let down by the schooling system’, after he was targeted when starting high school, having previously been home schooled.
In an interview with news.com.au, McCann said: “It was just relentless. He started to withdraw he wouldn’t speak to me about all the things but I was still advocating for him every day.
“They wouldn’t expel or suspend it’s wrong when there are so many incidents in schools. The school system fails children.”
McCann claimed she made repeated formal complaints about bullying to the South Sydney High School, as well as to the Department of Education and Children’s Services.
She said that she had medical information and a confirmed PTSD diagnosis to back her up, but ‘no one listened’.
Clare is hoping to give Atreyu a ‘second chance to live’ (GoFundMe)
Clare wants Atreyu’s body to be cryogenically preserved
In her most recent post following Atreyu’s death, McCann said she ‘humbly beg[ged]’ her followers to ‘help [her] preserve his life’.
The post included a link to a GoFundMe page which is titled ‘Help Preserve My Son After Bullying Tragedy’, and has a goal of $300,000 AUD ($195,084), which Clare says she needs ‘urgently’ to ‘cryogenically preserve [Atreyu’s] body within the next 7 days’.
Otherwise, she says, ‘the opportunity for him to live again will be lost forever’.
McCann told news.com.au that she and Atreyu had previously spoken about cryogenics in relation to humans, which involves freezing a body at very low temperatures in the hope that the person could one day be revived.
She explained: “About six or seven years ago we started talking about the after life and heaven and I talked to him a little about cryogenics, and he told me he would like to do that.
“Over the years we talked about that that’s what we would want to do together, never separate. He deserves a second chance to live the life he wanted.”
At the time of writing (May 26), the fundraiser has raised $4,130 AUD ($2,685).
Clare often took her son on the red carpet (Instagram/@claremccannofficial)
McCann said every dollar raised will go toward ‘immediate cryopreservation and legal transportation, required medical and legal services for the procedure’, as well as a trust in Atreyu’s name which will ‘protect his legacy’.
Any additional funds raised will go towards anti-bullying education and reform.
“All I really need to say is how much I really need these funds to give my son what he wanted,” McCann told news.com.au.
What have Atreyu’s school authorities said?
Deborah Summerhayes, NSW Deputy Secretary of Public Schools, said in a statement the department was ‘devastated to learn of the death of a student from a Sydney high school’.
“The Department of Education is providing counselling and other wellbeing support to students and staff who require it,” she said in a statement.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Prue Car also commented on Atreyu’s death, saying: “The death of Atreyu McCann is a tragic loss for his family, loved ones and the whole school community.
“No parent should go through the distress of losing a child in this way, and my deepest sympathies are with the McCann family at this difficult time.”
UNILAD has reached out to the South Sydney High School for comment.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@claremccannofficial
Topics: Australia, GoFundMe, Health, Mental Health, Parenting, Education
Published 11:19 14 May 2025 GMT+1
Mother who beat cancer four times allegedly shot dead by man in tragic accident
Jennifer James had been described by loved ones as ‘the epitome of sunshine’
A Denver mother who had beaten cancer four times tragically had her life cut short after a freak accident involving a gun fired from outside her home.
Jennifer James, 49, has been described by her loved ones on a GoFundMe page as ‘the epitome of sunshine’, and ‘an incredible human being [who] was loved by so many people’.
The mom was in her home in Berthoud, Denver on April 28, and was reportedly ‘battling cancer yet again’ when the fatal gunshot took place at around 11:20pm, causing a bullet to travel through the window of her home and strike her in the upper arm.
The bullet then traveled through Jennifer’s chest, and a 911 dispatcher was told that she collapsed and stopped breathing.
First responders arrived at the scene and attempted to provide aid, but Jennifer was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
Jennifer had been in her own home when she was shot (GoFundMe)
In the wake of Jennifer’s death, the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation which has since led to the arrest of 20-year-old Ebenezer Worku.
Worku was identified by police after he was found to be the driver of a Nissan Rogue which was seen on security camera footage outside Jennifer’s home at 11:18pm. The car remained in the area for several moments before its headlights went dark and it drove away.
Two days after the shooting, Worku was involved in a crash on Interstate 25 near Greenwood Village. When a Greenwood Village Police Department commander spoke with Worku, bodycam footage showed that he had a handgun holster underneath his jacket.
Following a search of the vehicle, police found a Glock 22, .40 caliber handgun with an extended magazine. The driver waived his Miranda rights and was taken to the sheriff’s office to be interviewed.
According to an arrest affidavit cited by Fox31, Worku used the interview to talk about his mental health and claimed he suffers from ‘homicidal schizophrenia’. The 20-year-old also described hearing voices that tell him to harm others.
Jennifer had already beaten cancer four times (GoFundMe)
Worku said he received the Glock 22 as a birthday gift from his ‘adopted uncle’ and that it was only used at the shooting range, but when pressed about the night of the shooting, he allegedly admitted that the gun had been discharged.
The affidavit said that Worku was trying to clean his gun when he ‘accidentally’ fired it out of the driver’s window, because he was unfamiliar with the weapon.
He then fired again when he tried to clear the chamber, but he allegedly told investigators he thought the bullets would hit a wall.
Though Worku told police he didn’t believe he’d hit anyone, he is said to have become frightened and driven away.
After sharing the details of the alleged incident, Worku was placed under arrest for first-degree murder and booked into the Larimer County Jail with a $1.25 million cash-only bond.
Now, Jennifer’s loved ones have launched a GoFundMe to raise money for her children following their loss.
“Anyone who knew [Jennifer] thought of her as the nicest person they had known,” the page reads. “She leaves behind four children without any parents. They are going to be dealing with extensive expenses. If you can help, even $1 will make a difference.”
You can donate to the fundraiser here.Featured Image Credit: GoFundMe
Topics: Cancer, Colorado, Crime, Mental Health, GoFundMe, Gun Crime
Published 12:17 2 May 2025 GMT+1
Reason husband who took his own life a day after honeymoon sent his wife flowers from beyond grave
The grieving wife described her late husband as a ‘smart, handsome, and successful man’
A wife was left heartbroken after her husband took his own life shortly after their honeymoon.
In September of last year, Isabel and Christopher Coles, from North Carolina, US, tied the knot in anticipation of Christopher — who was in the army — being deployed a month later.
Marrying in a courthouse, they had planned to have a bigger celebration of their love this month, but sadly the second ceremony never happened as Christopher took his own life after their honeymoon.
Isabel was understandably devastated when it happened and says there were ‘no signs’ that her husband was struggling before his suicide.
After the couple flew back home from their honeymoon, Christopher spent ‘all night’ putting guest information for their bigger ceremony into their wedding website, but the following morning Isabel noticed things were ‘a little weird’.
Isabel and Christopher tied the knot last year (Kennedy News and Media)
“He went downstairs and tried to get out. I stood at the front door and asked what was going on,” she recalled. “He got out and started heading towards the woods.”
Isabel ran upstairs to get her shoes, at which point she realized her husband had taken a weapon with him. The next morning, Christopher’s body was found by his father.
Isabel was left ‘shocked’ and ‘devastated’, noting that Christopher was ‘very driven and motivated’, which left her to wonder if there were signs she may have missed.
But in the months that followed Christopher’s untimely passing, Isabel received flowers from him beyond the grave on Valentine’s Day.
She admitted that she was ‘freaked out’ when she got the delivery, but the florist explained that Christopher had put the order in in advance.
The couple had planned to have a bigger wedding ceremony in May 2025 (Kennedy News and Media)
As to why he ordered the flowers to arrive on that day, it was because he knew that he’d still be deployed for his and Isabel’s first Valentine’s Day together as a married couple.
Isabel said: “They said he ordered the flowers in September because he knew he would be deployed and travelling back around Valentine’s day.”
The mom-of-one is also planning to run the Chicago Marathon in October 2025 to support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Speaking about Christopher’s death, Isabel said: “Everyone wants a reason why. No one believes that a smart, handsome, successful man who has a great life wakes up one day and decides to end his life.
“There are people in my life that say I had something to do with it. I know it’s not true, my husband and I were very happy. No one can change that or take that away from me.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.Featured Image Credit: Kennedy News and Media
Topics: Mental Health, US News, Weddings, Life, Community, Sex and Relationships
Published 11:26 11 Dec 2024 GMT
Woman who ripped out her own eyes explains how her ‘mind will not accept not seeing’
Kaylee Muthart gouged out her own eyeballs while hallucinating on drugs
Warning: This article contains graphic descriptions which some readers may find distressing.
A woman who gouged out her own eyeballs while hallucinating on drugs has spoken about how she’s adapted to life without her vision.
Kaylee Muthart, from Anderson, South Carolina, was just 20 years old when the tragic incident occurred.
She had recently been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had been using drugs including marijuana and ecstasy, which caused her to have intense hallucinations.
Kaylee Muthart ripped her eyes out during a hallucination (Kaylee Muthart)
“While on ecstasy, I studied the Bible. I misinterpreted a lot of it. I convinced myself that meth would bring me even closer to God,” she told Cosmopolitan.
After Thanksgiving 2017, Kaylee’s addiction became even more intense, despite trying to stop her habits ‘two or three times’.
Eventually, Kaylee agreed to go to rehab, but an incident before she arrived led to her ripping her own eyes out.
After being high from a session the night before, Kaylee feared ‘everyone would die, if I didn’t tear out my eyes immediately’.
She told the Daily Star: “I remember thinking that someone had to sacrifice something important to right the world, and that person was me. I thought everything would end abruptly and everyone would die if I didn’t tear out my eyes immediately.
“I pushed my thumb, pointer, and middle finger into each eye. I gripped each eyeball, twisted, and pulled until each eye popped out of the socket. It felt like a massive struggle, the hardest thing I ever had to do. Because I could no longer see, I don’t know if there was blood. But I know the drugs numbed the pain.”
She was just 20 years old when the tragic incident occurred (YouTube/What’s Trending)
Once at the hospital, medical professionals performed emergency surgery to remove what was left of her eyes.
Kaylee has since spoken about how she has adapted to life without her vision, explaining that her mind ‘will not accept not seeing’.
“When I open the window or crack the window for my cat in the morning, I wonder what it looks like out there. So when I open the window and stuff I think maybe God will help me see everything I have missed one day,” she said.
“I would like to see my loved ones get older, see what colour my cat is, I got him after I went blind. It’s like, imagine someone explaining to you what a character on a TV show looked like. They could tell you all the different attributes but until you look at them you will never know, you just won’t.
“Because I have seen before, my mind will not accept not seeing. They are called visual hallucinations and I kind of think of that as God not letting me be in the darkness.
“Even when you are blind it is not dark. I visualise like silhouettes of what I think is there. If I reach for it and it is incorrect it will change like that.”
Kaylee has explained how she’s adapted without her vision (Kaylee Muthart)
Kaylee underwent surgery three years ago where she had prosthetic eyes fitted to match her original eyes.
If you want friendly, confidential advice about drugs, you can call American Addiction Centers on (888) 830-7624 24 hours, seven days a week, or contact them through their website.Featured Image Credit: Kaylee Muthart
Topics: Health, Mental Health, Drugs
