Christmas is a happy time of year for many but certainly not for all.

Santa – Eric Schmitt-Matzen – headed to a local hospital in Tennessee to visit a terminally ill 5-year-old boy when he heard that he wanted to see Santa Claus.

The critically ill boy has not been named and was so close to death that Schmitt-Matzen didn’t even have time to don the full Santa outfit before comforting him.

Turning up in just his Santa suspenders and his natural white flowing beard, he was overcome with emotion.

View photos His natural beard makes for a great Santa. Photo: Facebook/Eric Schmitt-Matzen More

"When I walked in, he was laying there, so weak it looked like he was ready to fall asleep," Schmitt-Matzen told USA Today.

His family was watching on with tears in their eyes from the hallway as the boy sat up and asked: "Santa, can you help me?"

In what might be the most heartbreaking Christmas tale, Santa gave the boy a present and a big hug before he passed away right there in his arms.

“When I felt the life go from him, I looked up, tears running down my face, and looked over at the window and that's when mom started screaming," he said to the BBC.

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We can take heart that the final moments were somewhat joyful as the boy opened his gift – a PAW patrol toy.

View photos This sad experience hasn't deterred him for portraying Santa. Photo: Facebook/Eric Schmitt-Matzen More

"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," he said to Today USA.

In a column on the Knoxville News-Sentinel, it was revealed that the little boy was scared he wouldn’t know where to go – not quite understanding what was happening.

Schmitt-Matzen tried to comfort him in the only way Santa can: “When you get there, you tell 'em you're Santa's Number One elf, and I know they'll let you in.”

While this was obviously an emotionally draining experience and Santa couldn’t hold back his own tears on this occasion, it won’t stop him visiting sick children in the future.

"It's still tough to relive," he confessed to the BBC. "If somebody calls I'll do it. It hurts, but I'll do it."

Schmitt-Matzen has been donning the Santa outfit for six Christmases and his wife Sharon, dresses up as Mrs Claus.

This was his fourth hospital deathbed visit.

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