A heartbroken mom is pleading with the public to help her raise $195,000 to freeze the body of her 13-year-old son - but how exactly does it all work and what does the law say about it?
Australian actor Clare McCann, who appeared and wrote Blog Party and ClubLife, took to Instagram on Saturday (May 24) to share the devastating news that she had lost the 'brightest light' in her world.
Schoolboy Atreyu McCann tragically took his own life on Friday, with his mom alleging it was down to bullying in the playground - claiming he suffered a 'horrendous amounts of bullying' and was 'let down by the schooling system'.
Now, the grieving mom faces a race against time as she wishes to have his body 'cryogenically preserved', and has set a GoFundMe page up to help her do so.
What has Clare McCann said about preserving her son’s body?
Speaking on the page, she wrote: "I’m urgently raising $300,000 [Australian dollars - which equates to roughly $195,000] to cryogenically preserve his body within the next 7 days — or the opportunity for him to live again will be lost forever."
McCann went on to share how her family 'only have one chance left' to cryogenically preserve Atreyu - with the deadline of seven days running out by this Friday (May 30).
"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," she shared on her GoFundMe page.
"Please help us preserve our beloved Atreyu and give his life the dignity and future that his school stole from him. Share this campaign. Tell his story. And stand with us.
"We only have 7 days. Please act now."
While in her most recent Instagram post, McCann detailed how her 'worst nightmare has come to life', and that she is now 'humbly beg[ing]' her followers to help preserve the youngster.
How does cryogenic preservation work?
Cryogenic freezing is a process in which bodies are stored at temperatures of around -240°F [-150°C] to help preserve a person's cells, organs and tissues, in the hope that in the future advances in medical technology will be so great that people could be revived.
Corpses are preserved in a container filled with liquid nitrogen, with the bodies first coated in cryoprotectants, such as glycerol, which is administered to prevent ice crystal damage, and drained of blood.
The blood is replaced with a chemical protectant which helps to partially replace the water in the cells.
Is cryogenic preservation legal in Australia?
Cryopreservation is currently legal in Australia, and is only illegal in France and the Canadian state of British Columbia. It's important to note though that France does allow freezing for fertility purposes, such as freezing eggs.
In terms of preserving a body, the law does state that a person must be legally dead before freezing begins.
While the storage of the bodies that have undergone the process would need to be authorized under public health laws of the different territories in Australia.
What have Atreyu's school authorities said?
Deborah Summerhayes, NSW Deputy Secretary of Public Schools, said in a statement the department was 'devastated to learn of the death of a student from a Sydney high school'.
“The Department of Education is providing counselling and other wellbeing support to students and staff who require it,” she told UNILAD in a statement.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Prue Car also commented on Atreyu's death, saying: “The death of Atreyu McCann is a tragic loss for his family, loved ones and the whole school community.
“No parent should go through the distress of losing a child in this way, and my deepest sympathies are with the McCann family at this difficult time."
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.