Family in heartbreaking tribute to boy, 5, who died after being trapped in 100ft well

Little Rayan Awram, 5, has died after being trapped in the mountains of northern Morocco for five days last week after falling into the bottom of a 100ft deep well

A relative has spoken of her “heartache” after rescuers pulled her nephew’s body from the 100ft borehole where he was trapped for five days.

Rayan Awram, 5, could not be resuscitated when his body was pulled out of the ground after an arduous four-day rescue mission in the village of Chefchaouen in northern Morocco.

The child fell more than 100 feet after falling through the well’s opening while playing nearby on Tuesday.

World leaders and social media users have expressed their condolences to the grieving family following the tragic death of the youngster.

There was initially hope that the boy could be rescued alive, but government officials today confirmed the team did not get to him quickly enough.

He died before they arrived and could not be revived, reports say.

Today, Rayan’s aunt Atiqua Awram told local media: “My nephew, my heart aches too much for him. May God be with him as God was with us.”

The boy’s body was wrapped in a gold blanket as he was removed from a tunnel dug to access the well.

Morocco’s head of state, King Mohammed VI, offered tributes and tweeted his condolences as he praised the brave efforts of rescuers and the local community.

French President Emmanuel Macron also sent a message to the family, saying the people of France “shared their pain”.

He wrote: “Tonight I want to say to little Rayan’s family and the Moroccan people that we share their pain.”

Social media users also posted tributes following the child’s tragic death.

Under the SaveRyan hashtag, one wrote: “Rayan may you rest with the angels… I wish you had known that you have not been alone all these days and that everyone around the world has been praying for your safe return.

“Morocco made you proud.”

Another wrote: “Rest in peace tears flow around the world for Rayan tonight – please have no regrets from his rescuers as they honestly did everything they could to save this little boy!”

Videos from the scene show a large convoy of rescue workers and volunteers carrying the little boy to an ambulance after he was eventually freed from the bottom of the well.

His rescue initially caused a rush of joy, but devastating reports soon confirmed that he had not survived.

TV station 2M reports that King Mohammed VI. called Rayan’s parents to offer him my condolences.

The monarch has been following the rescue effort closely but has been briefed on its heartbreaking conclusion, the network said.

Hundreds joined efforts to rescue Rayan as word of his plight spread, and paramedics were on hand as teams closed in on him.

Workers with mechanical excavators carried out the delicate and dangerous operation but were constantly slowed down by rocks and endangered by the risk of a landslide.

Concerned locals gathered with Rayan’s family around the rescue site, where they sang “God is Greatest” while praying for good news.

Images in Moroccan media previously showed Rayan huddled at the bottom of the disused well, which narrows at the top as it descends from 45 cm (18 inches) wide, preventing rescuers from coming down.

Workers in helmets and safety vests carried stretchers, ropes and other equipment into a trench they had dug parallel to the well.

Efforts to save Rayan have gripped people across Morocco, and crowds gathered for a vigil around the well in the village of Ighran to watch the rescue efforts.

Continue reading

Continue reading