Story highlights Knoxville News Sentinel column shared story of dying 5-year-old boy who asked to see Santa

The Santa, Eric Schmitt-Matzen, says he was "a basket case for three days" afterward

The Knoxville News Sentinel raised questions Wednesday about this tale of the hospital Santa. New details are here.

(CNN) Knoxville News Sentinel columnist Sam Venable knew he'd found a sad story, but he didn't know just how many hearts it would break.

Venable's column about a terminally ill 5-year-old boy dying in Santa's arms has spread everywhere since its publication Sunday in the Tennessee newspaper. Among other things, it nails the emotional richness of the holiday season.

In interviews with CNN and HLN, Eric Schmitt-Matzen, the Santa in Venable's column, relayed his brief interaction with the boy:

"Santa, can you help me?" Santa tells last words of terminally ill boy who died in his arms https://t.co/S8PxhqCt9Y https://t.co/bszV8RlZUU — CNN Newsroom (@CNNnewsroom) December 13, 2016

"I said, 'What's this I hear that you think you're going to miss Christmas?'"

"He just kind of nodded at me, so I said, 'No way! Your present's already been made up for you, and here it is.'"

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