When a terminally ill five-year-old boy in the US asked to see Santa one last time, a nurse at the hospital knew exactly who to call.
60-year-old Eric Schmitt-Matzen is a mechanical engineer. He is also an authentic looking Santa who takes on 80 'gigs' a year.
Schmitt-Matzen makes such a convincing Santa that his snowy white beard won first place in in the "natural full beard, styled moustache" division of a 2016 national grooming contest.
He wears Santa suspenders all year round and his wife, Sharon plays along as Mrs Claus. Schmitt-Matzen's phone even plays Jingle Bells.
And when a nurse called to say he was needed at the hospital Schmitt-Matzen was happy to don his costume and do his job. Speaking to USA Today, he recalls:
"I'd just gotten home from work that day. The telephone rang. It was a nurse I know who works at the hospital. She said there was a very sick five-year-old boy who wanted to see Santa Claus.
"I told her, 'OK, just let me change into my outfit.' She said, 'There isn't time for that. Your Santa suspenders are good enough. Come right now.' "
Schmitt-Matzen got to the hospital within 15 minutes and met with the boy's mum and other family members.
"She'd bought a toy from (the TV show) PAW Patrol and wanted me to give it to him," he explained
"I sized up the situation and told everyone, 'If you think you're going to lose it, please leave the room. If I see you crying, I'll break down and can't do my job'."
He then went into the boy's room alone while the family watched from a window.
"When I walked in, he was laying there, so weak it looked like he was ready to fall asleep. 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!" explained Schmitt-Matzen.
He then gave the boy the present and watched as he opened it. Remembering the special moment he said: "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."
The pair then continued their conversation. The Boy explained that he knew he was going to die and that he wasn't sure where he was going. Schmitt-Matzen then asked the boy to do him a favour.
"When you get there, you tell 'em you're Santa's Number One elf, and I know they'll let you in.
"He said, 'They will?'
"I said, 'Sure!'," recalls the Santa lookalike.
The youngster then sat up and gave Schmitt-Matzen a hug. "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.
"Everyone outside the room realised what happened. His mother ran in. She was screaming, 'No, no, not yet!' I handed her son back and left as fast as I could," he explained.
The 60-year-old says that he spent four years in the army and has seen his fair share of "stuff" but nothing could have prepared him for the harrowing experience.
"I ran by the nurses' station bawling my head off. I know nurses and doctors see things like that every day, but I don't know how they can take it.
"I cried all the way home. I was crying so hard, I had a tough time seeing good enough to drive."
Schmitt-Matzen says that it took him a few weeks to stop thinking about the boy all the time. "My wife and I were scheduled to visit our grandchildren in Nashville the next day, but I told her to go by herself. I was a basket case for three days," he explains.
"Actually, I thought I might crack up and never be able to play the part again."
Somehow he did find the strength to play Santa again, and it turned out to be the best medicine for his melancholy.
"When I saw all those children laughing, it brought me back into the fold," he says.
"It made me realise the role I have to play. For them and for me."
Update: Since publication of this article, the US news outlets which first reported the story have done additional investigation in an attempt to independently verify Schmitt-Matzen's account. This has proven unsuccessful. Although facts about his background have checked out, his story of bringing a gift to a dying child remains unverified. See full story.
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