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Child in the Well: Rayan is dead
Rescue workers had been trying to free five-year-old Rayan for days. It is now clear that the boy, who fell into a well more than 30 meters deep, is dead. A painful moment for his parents, but also for hundreds of people who feared with the family at the scene of the accident. Relatives were stunned. “What can I say, I can’t. I was so glad when he was safe.” “My heart aches. My poor nephew. May God be with him as he stood by our side.” Rayan fell into the well in a community north of the city of Fez on Tuesday. A race against time began and extensive excavations were carried out, and pipes to save the child were laid. People lowered food and water. According to government officials, the boy died before rescuers could get to him on Saturday. Previously it had been reported that he had – as far as can be seen – suffered a minor head injury. The Moroccan royal family also got involved. King Mohammed VI had his sympathy conveyed to the pain of the relatives, spoke to the parents on the phone.
The five-year-old from northern Morocco fell more than 30 meters on Tuesday into a shaft no more than 45 centimeters wide. Ultimately, rescue workers were able to get to him, but too late.