Australian actress Clare McCann is racing against time to cryogenically preserve her 13-year-old son, Atreyu, who tragically took his own life last week following what she describes as “months of horrific bullying” at his public high school.
A Heartbreaking Plea for Preservation
McCann - known for her roles in Blog Party and Clublife - and founder of the Sydney International Women’s Film Festival, launched a GoFundMe campaign with the goal of raising AUS$300,000 (approximately £143,000).
The funds, she says, will go toward cryogenically preserving Atreyu’s body — a decision she claims fulfills a promise the two made years ago.
“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.”
At the time of writing, the campaign had raised around AU$10,000.
The funds would also cover transportation, medical, and legal costs for the procedure, and McCann hopes to establish a trust in her son’s name to protect his legacy.
A Shared Vision for the Future
Speaking to News.com.au, McCann shared that her son had expressed interest in cryopreservation from a young age.
“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,” she said. “We would talk about maybe we would be revived in a future so far ahead that humans have the ability to swim under water with extended breathing with the dolphins and the whales, or fly, or live on another planet…”
She added, “The only comfort I can find right now is that this must have been our purpose.”
Relentless Bullying and a System That Failed
McCann claims that Atreyu, previously homeschooled, faced bullying from the very first day he started at South Sydney High School on February 7. “He was bullied from the day he started,” she 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.”
Despite presenting medical records, psychological assessments, and a PTSD diagnosis to school officials, McCann says no meaningful action was taken. “They wouldn’t expel or suspend. It’s wrong when there are so many incidents in schools. The school system fails children.”
“He was just 13. He deserved a future. If the school and government had acted when I asked, he might still be alive. I begged for help. I submitted complaints. I shared medical records. No one listened.”
In a second Instagram post, McCann described Atreyu’s passing as her “worst nightmare,” writing: “It breaks my heart beyond what words can compare to share that in a moment of unbearable pain Atreyu took his own life. This was not his fault. He had suffered horrendous amounts of bullying.”
Public and Government Response
NSW Deputy Secretary of Public Schools Deborah Summerhayes expressed condolences, noting that the Department of Education is offering support services to students and staff. Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Prue Car called it a “tragic loss,” adding: “No parent should go through the distress of losing a child in this way.”
The Science—and the Controversy—of Cryopreservation
While the emotional impetus behind McCann’s cryogenic mission is clear, scientific experts remain skeptical. According to BBC Future, no one who has undergone cryopreservation has ever been successfully revived. Even with the use of cryoprotective agents, the process cannot yet prevent potential tissue damage or guarantee brain function after reanimation.
Cryopreservation involves replacing bodily fluids with cryoprotective agents before cooling the body to -196°C. The hope is that future scientific breakthroughs may reverse the cause of death and allow for revival. However, experts caution that revival—if possible—could result in severe brain damage due to current technological limitations.
Despite the scientific uncertainty, McCann remains resolute. “He deserves a second chance to live the life he wanted,” she said.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.