The entertainment world has been shaken by the heartbreaking news that the 13-year-old son of a widely admired actress has passed away. Known for her warmth, kindness, and long career of memorable performances, the actress is said to be grieving deeply as she faces a loss no parent should ever endure. Friends, colleagues, and supporters have expressed their sympathy, forming a community of comfort around a family experiencing unimaginable pain.
Details surrounding the circumstances remain limited at this time, and the family has asked for privacy as they begin to process the tragedy. Out of respect, those close to the actress are honoring that request, offering quiet support while giving the family space to navigate their grief. On social media, fans have been sharing gentle messages, prayers, and memories of how much joy the actress has brought into their lives.
Those who knew the family personally describe the loss as shocking and difficult to comprehend. They speak of a bright, joyful child who brought light into every room and created lasting warmth among friends and relatives. The outpouring of love reflects how deeply the young boy was cherished by those around him.
The family has confirmed the name of the child, Ethan, while asking the public to keep them in their thoughts. As they move through this painful period, supporters continue to send compassion and strength, hoping to offer some measure of comfort. The family is focusing on honoring Ethan’s memory and finding healing one step at a time.
Heartbroken actress who attempted to ‘preserve’ 13-year-old son’s body after his death finally lays him to rest
A mother who was raising money in an attempt to ‘preserve’ her teenage son’s body after his tragic death has finally laid him to rest.
Last month, Australian actress Clare McCann, who is best known for her breakout role as ‘Cherry’ on the popular TV series Blog Party, shared the heartbreaking news that her 13-year-old son Atreyu had died by suicide.
She issued a desperate plea to her followers and revealed her plans to cryogenically freeze his body so that one day he might be brought back to life by scientific advances.
In a statement on 26 May, the grieving mum shared the devastating news of his death and explained that Atreyu had been the victim of ‘months of relentless bullying’, and simply saw no way out.
Australian actress Clare McCann held a funeral for her son on Monday (16 June) (Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
In a follow-up message, the actress explained that she was aiming to raise six figures to go ahead with the cryogenic freezing.
The scientific process sees bodies being preserved at extremely low temperatures – usually below -120 degrees – and stored at a cryogenic facility.
“It breaks my heart beyond what words can compare to share that in a moment of unbearable pain Atreyu took his own life,” she wrote online.
“This was not his fault. He was let down by the schooling system as he suffered horrendous amounts of bullying.
“Now I humbly beg of you to help me preserve his life and help me fight against this inhumane landslide of child suicides caused by unchecked bullying by schools and teachers.”
However, it was a race against the clock and the time window to raise the funds was short, with Clare initially stating that there were only seven days to bring in AU$300,000 (£140,000).
As time began to run out, she issued an update on the situation and wrote on her Instagram Story: “Thank you to everyone who tried to help give my baby another chance at life. I knew it was a long shot but I had to try.”
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It comes after she attempted to raise six figures to cryogenically freeze his body (GoFundMe)
And now, Clare has finally laid her son to rest, with his funeral being held in Sydney on Monday (16 June).
Speaking in front of her son’s coffin, Clare said: “Atreyu you saved me from the nothingness, you brought my life indescribable joy when I had none,” reports News.com.au.
She continued: “As you grew I revelled in your beauty. I always felt so blessed to have such a beautiful and wonderful boy. You were and will always be my best mate.
“You were the most intelligent, funniest person I have ever known.”
According to the outlet, Clare also opened up about the distressing bullying her son faced.
She told attendees: “Upon starting high school he was singled out and bullied by some kids who were jealous of him. They tried to dim his light.”
Clare heartbreakingly added that ‘now the world knows his name, his story and his message’ and expressed her determination to campaign for an overhaul of school anti-bullying policies.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677.
The heartbroken Australian actress who lost her 13-year-old son to suicide has revealed the reason why she wants to ‘preserve’ his body.
Clare McCann, best known for her breakout role as ‘Cherry’ on the popular TV series Blog Party, announced last week (23 May) the heartbreaking news that her 13-year-old son, Atreyu, had died after being the victim of ‘months of horrific bullying’.
She announced her desperate plea to raise a six-figure sum of $300,000 (AUD) in a bid to have her son’s body cryogenically frozen on an online fundraiser and has opened up about the heartbreaking reasoning behind such a decision.
The grieving mother pleaded with supporters that she only has ‘one chance left to cryogenically preserve his body within the next 7 days’.
Australian actress Clare McCann is desperately trying to raise funds to cryogenically preserve her 13-year-old son’s body after he tragically died from suicide (Instagram/@claremccannofficial)
“If we miss this window, we lose the chance for any future revival that science may offer,” McCann continued, adding that such a decision is ‘about hope and justice’ and refusing to let her son’s story ‘end in silence’.
Outlining where ‘every dollar’ of the six-figure sum goal will go, McCann explained: “I am asking for $300,000 AUD urgently. Every dollar will go toward: immediate cryopreservation and legal transportation, required medical and legal services for the procedure and a trust in his [Atreyu] name to protect his legacy.”
“I am a public figure with a national platform,” she added, “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.”
“I’ve been sitting there with him in the morgue just kissing him, realistically from Thursday I know I should be putting him in a fully synthetic sleeping bad and putting ice packs surrounding him at the minimum to have any kind of chance but I just don’t want to disturb him if this is all for nothing,” McCann later told news.com.au in an article published Thursday (29 May).
The grieving mother has launched a fundraiser in order to pay for the $300,00 AUD treatment (Instagram/@claremccannofficial)
She continued: “I mean, I want him back, but at the same time, the ice will disfigure him so if I can’t use the cryopreservation technology how do I do that to my baby? I can’t do that to my beautiful baby.
“If this doesn’t work, if I can’t raise the money to do this then I can’t even think about what’s next, a cemetery… I can’t even.”
McCann later added: “The thought of being able to bring him back gives me something to hang on to. Without that I literally have nothing.”
In the GoFundMe, which was created four days ago, McCann signed off: “We only have 7 days. Please act now.”
