“Nothing Left To Preserve”: Mom Wants To Freeze Son’s Body After He Took His Own Life

An Australian mother faced with every parent’s worst nightmare—the passing of a child—is now turning to a science fiction-like hope for a second chance at the life of her son: cryogenic preservation.

Actress Clare McCann is desperately trying to raise $195,000 to freeze the body of her 13–year-old son, Atreyu, who tragically took his own life last Friday (May 23). According to the associated fundraiser page, the boy had been the target of “horrific bullying at his public school.”

While, to date, no one has been successfully revived after being cryogenically frozen, the hope of science advancing to the point where it is possible in the future has become McCann’s only refuge from her grief—and time is running out.

An Australian actress is raising money to cryogenically preserve her son’s body after he took his own life

Woman in a gold dress posing at Peter and the Starcatcher event, related to desperate mom raising funds to freeze body.

Image credits: Don Arnold/Getty Images

“We only have one chance left to cryogenically preserve his body within the next 7 days,” she wrote.

“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.”

Mother and son at the beach, highlighting a desperate mom trying to raise funds to freeze her 13-year-old son's body.

Image credits: claremccannofficial

Cryonics—the low-temperature preservation of a human body after passing with the hope of future revival—remains a controversial and largely experimental field. But for grieving parents like McCann, it offers a final, if slim, sliver of hope.

Young boy in school uniform smiling with backpack, related to after 13YO son took his own life and body freezing fundraiser.

Image credits: GoFundMe

Addressing her critics, McCann said in an interview that her son had previously agreed to the procedure, and said that neither of them took the idea lightly.

“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,” she said in an interview with local media.

“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.”

For McCann, Atreyu’s passing is the result of institutions actively ignoring her warnings about him being bullied

Cryonics equipment releasing vapor as a technician in gloves prepares to freeze a body for long-term preservation.

Image credits: Svitlana/Adobe Stock

McCann’s desperation is compounded by a growing sense of impotence, as she says she tried everything in her power to notify the school of Atreyu’s declining mental health and bullying problems.

“I have medical records, psychologist reports, a formal PTSD diagnosis from his doctor, and emails proving I raised the alarm repeatedly,” she wrote on her fundraising page.

“But nothing was done. No one stepped in. And now, my beautiful boy is gone.”

Comment expressing hope for peace after tragic loss, related to mom trying to raise funds to freeze son's body.

Alt text: Online comment expressing grief over 13-year-old son's suicide and mom's effort to raise funds to freeze his body.

Comment text discussing cryogenics and preservation after death, related to freezing body efforts.

Since it was launched, the campaign has raised just over $4,750 Australian dollars (approximately $3,080).

Cryonics facility with nitrogen tanks and equipment used to freeze and preserve bodies after death for long-term storage.

Image credits: KPIX | CBS NEWS BAY AREA

McCann assured donors that the money would go toward “immediate cryopreservation and legal transportation,” as well as necessary medical and legal services and a trust in Atreyu’s name “to protect his legacy.”

Once the aforementioned process is complete, any leftover funds would go towards supporting anti-bullying education, as well as pursuing legal action against the institutions McCann said failed her son.

The likelihood of a person being successfully revived after being frozen depends on technology that’s not yet available

Cryonics tanks emitting vapor in a facility where a mom tries to raise funds to freeze her late son's body.

Image credits: BBC Global

Cryonics, as practiced today, is based on preserving the body—particularly the brain—at extremely low temperatures in a process called vitrification, which freezes tissues without forming ice crystals that could damage them.

Young boy sitting on wooden floor tying white sneakers, related to fundraising to freeze body after 13YO son took his own life.

Image credits: claremccannofficial

Companies offering the service argue that if enough of the brain’s structure can be preserved, future medical advancements may allow full revival. 

One of such companies, Alcor, assures potential customers that “life can be stopped and restarted if its basic structure is preserved,” but recognizes that the likelihood of that happening depends entirely on nanotechnology being one day able to “repair damage at the molecular level.”

Woman and young boy seated in theater with Annie play curtain, highlighting son took own life and mom raising funds to freeze body.

Image credits: claremccannofficial

Critics argue that these claims stretch the boundaries of science and ethics, and are ultimately a gamble that seeks to prey on people’s fears, grief, and desire to prolong their existence. To date, no human has ever been revived after cryopreservation.

Despite this, the service has turned into a profitable business.

Woman and young boy smiling together, capturing a moment reflecting a mother's desperate effort to freeze her son’s body.

Image credits: claremccannofficial

According to tissue preservation company Cryonics Institute, to date, over 100 people have been cryopreserved, and more than 1,000 have signed up to be preserved in the future—many using life insurance policies to cover the cost.

When asked about any mammal being successfully cryopreserved and revived, the company recognizes that only some organs have completed the process, and that “no whole mammal” has been revived.

“We believe that the damage caused by current cryopreservation is limited and hopefully can someday be repaired in the future.”

“Don’t judge her.” Methods aside, netizens sympathized with the mother’s grief

Alt text: Facebook comment expressing grief and urging empathy after a mom's 13-year-old son took his own life.

Screenshot of a Facebook comment expressing empathy for a desperate mom raising funds to freeze her 13-year-old son's body.

Comment from Liz Rudy expressing grief over losing a young loved one to suicide, shown with a broken heart emoji.

Mother expressing grief and seeking support after her 13-year-old son took his own life, trying to raise funds.

Screenshot of a Facebook comment from Sarah Jackson about a mom trying to raise funds to freeze her 13-year-old son's body.

Desperate mom sharing a heartfelt message seeking support after son’s tragic loss, raising funds to freeze his body.

A social media comment expressing grief after 13-year-old son took his own life, mother fundraising to freeze his body.

Facebook comment by Kimberly Caraveo expressing heartbreak and hoping the boy’s soul can rest in peace after 13YO son took his own life.

Facebook comment by Joanne Gifford expressing grief and struggle to accept her 13-year-old son’s death and preserving his body.

Comment from Sarah Werkheiser expressing sadness over her son's suicide and struggles to accept his death.

Comment expressing sympathy for a desperate mom raising funds to freeze her 13-year-old son's body after his suicide.

Facebook comment expressing sympathy for a grieving mom raising funds to freeze her 13-year-old son's body after his suicide.

Comment from Jo Williams expressing grief and the struggle of a mother trying to cope after her 13-year-old son’s suicide.

Comment on social media about freezing a body after 13-year-old son's suicide, showing grief and hope.

Screenshot of a Facebook comment expressing sadness over a mom trying to raise money to freeze her 13-year-old son's body.

Screenshot of a social media comment discussing challenges in reviving and freezing a 13-year-old son after his passing.

Comment about cryogenics and losing a child, expressing sympathy from Brittney Kodra in an online discussion.

Comment by Richard Gabriel discussing cryogenics and doubts about bringing someone back to life after being dead for years.

Facebook comment by Amanda Salander expressing sympathy for a mother raising funds after her 13-year-old son's suicide.

Comment from Jaime Morgan Garst stating intent to use money to retain a lawyer to sue the school system after son's death.

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