A five-year-old boy has died in the arms of Santa Claus impersonator Eric Schmitt-Matzen in a Tennessee hospital.
The boy, who has not been named, was terminally ill and his last wish was to see Santa Claus before he died.
A nurse called 60-year-old Mr Schmitt-Matzen, who works as a mechanical engineer and president of Packing Seals & Engineering in Jacksboro, Tennessee, who raced to the hospital.
The boy was so close to death there was not even time for Mr Schmitt-Matzen to put on his Santa suit, he arrived wearing his Santa suspenders and his natural white flowing beard.
"When I walked in, he was laying there, so weak it looked like he was ready to fall asleep," he told .
"I sat down on his bed and asked, ‘Say, what’s this I hear about you’re gonna miss Christmas? There’s no way you can miss Christmas! Why, you’re my Number One elf!"
Mr Schmitt-Matzen said he asked the boy's family to wait outside if they could not hold back their tears so he could make the experience as happy as possible for the little boy.
Eric Schmitt-Matzen and his wife Sharon, who impersonates Mrs Claus. (Facebook) Source: Facebook
"If I see you crying, I’ll break down and can’t do my job," he told the family.
"[His mother had] bought a toy from [the TV show] PAW Patrol and wanted me to give it to him.
"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."
Mr Schmitt-Matzen said while the boy was more worried about missing Christmas than about death, he asked where he would go when he died.
"When you get there, you tell ’em you’re Santa’s Number One elf, and I know they’ll let you in," reported he told the boy.
"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."
Mr Schmitt-Matzen said shortly after the boy's mother realised her son had gone and ran in screaming and he felt it was time to go.
“I spent four years in the Army with the 75th Rangers, and I’ve seen my share of [stuff]," he said.
"But I ran by the nurses’ station bawling my head off."
