The Twin Who Captured Hearts in Viral Hugging Photo Has Died

One of the young twins captured in a photo that went viral has died, his parents said Wednesday.

The Buchmeyer family, of Fort Pierce, Fla., shared a photo of their twins, Hawk and Mason, earlier this month. The image depicted them at 11 days old, capturing “the first time they have ever touched,” the caption explained. “As soon as Mason felt Hawk he reached out for his arm and smiled this big. We thought it was time for everyone pulling for our boy to see this picture.”

Hawk experienced medical problems shortly after his birth, and doctors found he was suffering from congenital diaphragmatic hernia. On Wednesday, his family announced he had died.

“Our hearts are saddened this morning as our sweet little man was called home to be with Jesus,” they wrote on Facebook. “He went very peacefully and we know he’s no longer suffering. Please give us some time to grieve and try to start the healing process.”