‘Months of bullying’: Mother begs for help after 13yo boy takes his own life

Actor and filmmaker Clare McCann begged her son’s school to stop the “horrific bullying” which she claims included attempts to drown him and harassment at all hours. Her 13-year-old son committed suicide on Friday.

Australian actor Clare McCann has shared a heartbreaking update following the shock death of her 13-year-old son Atreyu.' A gofundme account is asking for $300,000 to have Atreyu cryogenically frozen.

The mother of a teenage boy who took his own life after months of bullying claims his classmates tried to drown him on school camp, drew on his body to humiliate him and harassed him at all hours with unrelenting phone calls.

Atreyu McCann, 13, died on Friday in his home in Sydney’s south, after what his mother Clare McCann described as a brutal campaign of bullying and mental and physical cruelty.

Ms McCann, an actor and filmmaker, says she begged her son’s school to intervene, insisting she raised “at least 10” incidents between February and April, but it wasn’t enough to save her son.

“They just destroyed him,” she said of the bullies.

“And in a moment of immense pain, he just did something, because I think he just didn’t know what else to do.”

Australian actor Clare McCann has shared a heartbreaking update following the shock death of her 13-year-old son Atreyu.

Australian actor Clare McCann and her 13-year-old son Atreyu.

Atreyu, an actor himself, started at the school in Year 7 on February 5.

By February 7, Ms McCann said he was in tears asking her to help stop the bullies.

“There was an attempted drowning on Year 7 camp, sexual harassment,” she said.

“When he told me, I was mortified that the school hadn’t called me”.

Ms McCann said she immediately went to the school and demanded a meeting.

She also made complaints to the Department of Education and Children’s Services.

“I have medical records, psychologist reports, a formal PTSD diagnosis from his doctor, and emails proving I raised the alarm repeatedly. But nothing was done. No one stepped in. And now, my beautiful boy is gone,” she said.

Bullying victim Atreyu McCann, 13, and his mum Clare McCann. Supplied by Ms McCann

“I pulled him out of school at the start of April … when I was trying to get him ready and he told me if he had to go to school, he’d kill himself.”

After seeking medical help, and being away from the bullies, Ms McCann believed her only child’s mental health was improving.

“I thought he was getting better … I just wish I knew what he was thinking,” she said.

Her son didn’t leave a note, but Ms McCann said they often talked about their dying wishes, she just didn’t imagine needing to act on it so soon.

“We’d talk about the future, about heaven, how we’d like to come back and do things together. Those were his wishes and dreams, and I can’t fail him now,” she said.

Ms McCann has set up a Go Fund Me page to raise money to have Atreyu’s body cryogenically preserved, a process she believes could reunite them in the afterlife.

“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 said.

Any funds raised in excess of the cost to preserve his body would be used for anti-bullying campaigns, the fundraiser states.

Deputy Premier and Education Minister Prue Car said Atreyu’s death was 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,” she said.

NSW Deputy Secretary Public School Deborah Summerhayes issued a statement on Monday saying the Department of Education was providing counselling and other wellbeing support to staff and students.

“We are devastated to learn of the death of a student from a Sydney high school and extend our deepest sympathies to the family, friends, and community members,” Ms Summerhayes said.

Originally published as ‘Months of bullying’: Mother begs for help after 13yo boy takes his own life