Terminally ill five-year-old passes away in the arms of Santa Claus

Eric J. Schmitt-Matzen is a pretty special person.

The 60-year-old often plays the part of Santa Claus, alongside his wife Sharon as Mrs. Claus, and the pair can have up to 60 'Father Christmas' gigs a year. While you would imagine this job brings great joy, Eric had an unbearably sad encounter when he visited a terminally ill five-year-old boy. In conversation with USA Today, Eric explained that he got a call one evening urging him to come to his local hospital straight away. The Tennessee resident said that when he got there, the little boy was so weak, he couldn't open the present his mother had wrapped for him. Speaking to the publication, Eric said:

"I gave him the present. He was so weak he could barely open the wrapping paper. When he saw what was inside, he flashed a big smile and laid his head back down".

He then spoke of how the little boy reacted to him:

"He kinda sat up and gave me a big hug and asked one more question: 'Santa, can you help me?' "I wrapped my arms around him. Before I could say anything, he died right there. I let him stay, just kept hugging and holding on to him".

Heartbreakingly, Eric said that the child's mother was distraught to see that her son had passed away and screamed: "no, no, not yet". He said that the experience had a major impact on him and left him wondering if he "was cut out for this". After some time, he mustered the strength to play Santa again and it had a positive effect:

"When I saw all those children laughing, it brought me back into the fold. It made me realize the role I have to play. "For them and for me".