[Schmitt-Matzen's Facebook]
A terminally ill five-year-old boy has made his Christmas wish as he died in the arms of Santa in the United States.
According to a column from an American newspaper Knoxville News Journal, a 60-year-old Tennessee man Eric Schmitt-Matzen, who volunteers as Santa Claus every holiday season, was called by the nurses at a local hospital to visit the boy.
“When I walked in, he was laying there, so weak it looked like he was ready to fall asleep," Schmitt-Matzen was quoted as saying. After a short conversation, he allegedly wrapped his arms around the child who died right there, he said. "I let him stay, just kept hugging and holding on to him."
After handing the child over to his parents, the Santa left as fast as he could. "I cried all the way home," he said. "I was crying so hard, I had a tough time seeing good enough to drive."
Schmitt-Matzen considered hanging up his Santa suit after the incident but he said that when he saw other children laughing, he realized his role as Santa. "For them and for me," he added.
Aju News Park Sae-jin = swatchsjp@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
