5-year-old boy with terminal illness gets his final wish, then passes away in Santa’s arms

“When you get up to them Pearly Gates, you just tell them you’re Santa’s Number One elf, and I know they’ll let you in,” he said.

The little boy sat up in his bed and gave Eric a big hug. Eric later told the press that the five-year-old then passed away in his arms.

“He was in my arms when I felt him pass,” the man explained.

CHILD WITH CANCER DIES IN SANTA'S ARMS! 🎅🏼😔🖤🕊.A very sad experience lived a 60-year-old man, who works as Santa Claus…

“I spent four years in the Army with the 75th Rangers, and I’ve seen my share of (stuff). But I ran by the nurses’ station bawling my head off.”

According to sources, Eric’s heartbreaking experience left him questioning whether or not he wanted to continue to be Santa. After forcing himself to attend an event the following day, however, he was reminded of just made convinced him to take on the mantle in the first place… the love, laughter and joy of the children he meets.

Mere days after Eric’s story garnered viral fame – in December, 2016 – his tale of events came into question. The Knoxville News Sentinel, the first to report the story, published an editor’s note at the head of its article revealing that it had been unable to “independently verify” Eric’s account.

Eric responded by declaring himself hurt by the doubts as to the credibility of his account.

“I feel like I have been used and then hung out to dry,” he said in a text message, as per TIME.

“I emphasized from the very beginning that I intended to keep my word and not disclose any information that could lead to the folks’ identity.”

He added: “Now I am being made out to be a liar. I tried to do a good deed, was talked into telling the story of what happened to me . . . and now the press is ridiculing me for standing my ground.”