Strenuous rescue efforts go in vain as 5-year-old Moroccan boy trapped in well dies

Five days of strenuous efforts made to rescue a small boy trapped in a well in northern Morocco seems to have gone down the drain as the child died before rescuers could reach him.  

The rescuers reached him late on Saturday and retrieved the body, two government officials said.  

Footage from the scene shows when his body was recovered. In it, hundreds of distraught rescue workers and onlookers, who had gathered at the site, could be seen chanting to god. They also shined the phones’ flashlights into the air.  

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The five-year-old Rayan Awram had fallen into the well at Ighran village in the hills near Chefchaouen on Tuesday. The incident had triggered a huge rescue effort.  

After removing much of the adjacent hillside and tunnelling delicately a horizontal passage into the well, rescuers finally reached him late on Saturday.  

King Mohammed gave his condolences to the parents, state media reported.  

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Crowds had also gathered in a vigil at the scene to stay abreast with the rescue effort as hundreds of workers toiled to save the child.   

Numerous Moroccans also followed the efforts on television. "I am so sad to learn Rayan has died. Sincere condolences to the parents," said Abderrahim Sabihi, a Rabat resident, who was following the rescue effort. 

(With inputs from agencies)