Australian Actress Wants To 'Cryogenically Preserve' Teen Son Who Died By Suicide, Seeks Rs 1.6 Crore

Last Updated:May 27, 2025, 22:41 IST

Clare McCann, whose son died by suicide after alleged bullying at school, said she has seven days to raise the money or "the opportunity for him to live again will be lost forever"

Australian actress Clare McCann, whose son died by suicide after alleged bullying at school, said she has seven days to raise the money. (Image: Sourced)

An Australian actress and filmmaker has started a funding campaign seeking Rs 1.6 crore to “cryogenically preserve" the body of her 13-year-old son, who died by suicide.

Clare McCann, whose son died by suicide after alleged bullying at school, said she has seven days to raise the money or “the opportunity for him to live again will be lost forever". On the GoFundMe page she has opened for the purpose, she has already managed to raise close to Rs 4 lakh.

“My 13-year-old son tragically took his own life after months of brutal bullying at a NSW public school. I’m urgently raising $300,000 to cryogenically preserve his body within the next 7 days – or the opportunity for him to live again will be lost forever," she said in her appeal on GoFundMe.

According to the New York Post, McCann’s son Atreyu died by suicide on May 23, and the actress believes that there is a chance to revive him in the future through cryopreservation.

Cryopreservation aims at maintaining the viability and functionality of biological samples over long periods. Methods such as controlled cooling are used to slowly decrease the temperature of the material to avoid damage from ice crystal formation. It can have various applications like embryo and sperm freezing for future reproduction, organ and tissue banking, as well as research.

McCann said Atreyu was subjected to “months of horrific bullying at his public school" and she had also “begged the school, the Department of Education, and Children’s Services to intervene".

“I have medical records, psychologist reports, a formal PTSD diagnosis from his doctor, and emails proving I raised the alarm repeatedly. But nothing was done. No one stepped in. And now, my beautiful boy is gone," she said.

She explained how the funds will be used for immediate cryopreservation and legal transportation: required medical and legal services for the procedure and a trust in Atreyu’s name to protect his legacy.

If there are any funds to spare, they will go towards raising awareness against bullying and related educational reforms. She said they will also look into legal action against institutions lacking infrastructure to help students cope as well as support for other impacted families.

“I am a public figure with a national platform, and I will use every resource I have to make sure this never happens again, not just to my son, but to any other child failed by this system," she said.

McCann told news.com.au that she had discussed afterlife and heaven, as well as cryogenics with her son a few years ago and what they would want to do together so as not to be separated from each other.

“All I need to say is how much I really need these funds to give my son what he wanted. About six or seven years ago, we started talking about the afterlife 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," she was quoted.

Location :

Australia

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News world Australian Actress Wants To 'Cryogenically Preserve' Teen Son Who Died By Suicide, Seeks Rs 1.6 Crore