From hope to despair ...tragic Rayan dies in well despite frantic f ive-day rescue bid
THE five-year-old boy at the centre of a desperate rescue attempt that transfixed millions around the world has died.
After a five-day effort to free Rayan Awram from a 100ft well – and brief hopes last night that he had been rescued alive – the Moroccan government announced that he had died before rescuers reached him.
The news came soon after medics were seen carrying the youngster, wrapped in a yellow blanket, from a specially constructed tunnel to an ambulance.
Thousands of Moroccans who had descended on the tiny village of Ighran wrongly thought he had survived and shouted, ‘Allahu Akbar [God is Great]’ – but their joy was soon dashed.
The route from the tunnel to the ambulance was been lined on both sides by those who had toiled to free him. It was initially thought to be a tribute to Rayan’s bravery, but it transpired that it was to hide the tragic fact that he had died.
Shortly before Rayan was brought to the surface, his anxious parents had been escorted to an ambulance. As it transpired, it was to grieve, not to celebrate.
Rescue teams battled to reach Rayan by inching towards the walls of the well from a tunnel bored next to it to reduce the risk of a landslide. Rescue from above was impossible as the well measures just 18 inches across towards the bottom – wide enough for a young child, but too narrow for an adult.
TV schedules across parts of the Middle East were torn up to allow for continuous coverage of the drama.
Rayan’s father Khalid Agoram had been repairing the well near the northern city of Chefchaouen, on Tuesday when his inquisitive son slipped and plunged into the shaft.
Local volunteers tried in vain to lower themselves on ropes to the stricken youngster.
One of Rayan’s relatives last week described how the youngster had plunged into the darkness and his father heard muffled cries from the bottom of the well.
A mobile phone with its light and camera on was lowered and captured Rayan crying and saying: ‘Lift me up.’
As specialist rescue teams from Morocco’s National Civil Defence were mobilised, there were fears he could die if the walls of the well gave way or because of the freezing temperatures.
As five mechanical diggers began to remove soil to enable twin tunnels to be dug, an oxygen pipe and mask were lowered to Rayan to allow him to breathe more easily.
Food and drink followed before a camera was lowered. It beamed back images of Rayan, a streak of blood across his face.
It was thought the youngster had suffered head and back injuries, and his movements were slight, but it confirmed that he had survived the fall.
Abdelhadi Temrani, the head of the rescue committee, revealed on Friday that Rayan was no longer moving, adding: ‘It is not possible to determine the child’s condition at all at this time, but we hope to God that the child is alive.’
Those hopes were dashed last night as the government announced the boy’s death and said King Mohammed VI of Morocco had sent condolences to his parents.
Speaking shortly before the news of her son’s death, Wassima Kharchich said: ‘I pray and beg God that he comes out of that well alive and safe. Please God, ease my pain and his, in that hole of dust.’