Actress Clare McCann's Son Lost to Bullying, Fights to Fulfill His Cryopreservation Wish

 

The heart-wrenching depths of a mother's grief are laid bare in the tragic story shared by Australian actress Clare McCann. Her 13-year-old son, Atreyu, took his own life last Friday, May 23rd, 2025, after what McCann describes as months of relentless, soul-crushing bullying. Now, amidst this unimaginable loss, she has embarked on an urgent, deeply personal, and unprecedented quest: to raise $200,000 to cryogenically preserve Atreyu's body, fulfilling a wish they often shared about the future.

"All I really need to say is how much I really need these funds to give my son what he wanted," McCann bravely stated on social media. She recounted how, years ago, during conversations about life, death, and what lies beyond, she introduced the concept of cryogenics. To her surprise, young Atreyu embraced the idea.

It became their shared dream, a fantastical escape where they imagined a future so advanced, "people could breathe underwater with dolphins or live on another planet." This shared vision of a distant, hopeful future makes Atreyu's current fate all the more agonizing.

McCann describes Atreyu as the "brightest light" in her world kind, creative, and profoundly loved. But that light began to dim the day he started high school on February 7th, transitioning from homeschooling into what quickly became a nightmare of "relentless" bullying. He withdrew, his mother observed, though he couldn't share the full extent of his torment.

What truly compounds McCann's grief is her desperate, yet allegedly ignored, fight for her son. She made repeated formal complaints to the school, the Department of Education, and other authorities. She even provided medical records, including a confirmed PTSD diagnosis for Atreyu. Yet, she claims, no meaningful action was taken.

"He was just 13. He deserved a future. If the school and government had acted when I asked, he might still be alive," McCann passionately asserted. Her voice, choked with pain, now echoes a powerful indictment of the system: "The school system fails children... This horrible system of bullying is causing so much tragedy.” She argues that a system that "wouldn’t expel or suspend anyone" despite "so many incidents" is fundamentally broken.

McCann's public plea, which has garnered immense sympathy from her 62,000 followers, is a race against time. The online fundraiser states that without the necessary funds, the unique opportunity to preserve Atreyu’s body and potentially revive him in a distant, more advanced future will be lost forever. So far, only a small fraction of the $200,000 goal has been raised.

Every dollar, McCann promises, will go directly towards the cryopreservation process, covering legal and medical fees, transportation, and the establishment of a trust in Atreyu’s name. Crucially, any surplus funds will be dedicated to anti-bullying education and advocacy efforts, a desperate attempt to prevent other children from enduring the same fate.

Authorities have offered their sympathy and support services to affected students and staff. However, for Clare McCann, her immediate focus is on honoring her son's last, incredible wish, while her long-term goal is to transform her personal tragedy into a catalyst for systemic change, ensuring no other child faces the invisible scars that took her Atreyu.

This story is a stark, heartbreaking reminder of the devastating consequences of bullying and the urgent, collective responsibility we bear to protect our children and ensure systems are in place to truly keep them safe.