State news agency says Moroccan boy trapped in well died before rescue

By Khaled Majdoub

RABAT, Morocco (AA) – A five-year Moroccan child trapped in a well in northern Morocco for days died before rescuers reached him, the state news agency reported on Sunday.

Rescuers managed to reach Rayan Awram late on Saturday after five days of digging to reach the child inside the 32-meter-deep well. He was moved to a hospital of the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie where he was pronounced dead.

The child fell inside the well on Tuesday and his tragedy brought wide sympathy across the world where millions were following his rescue efforts over the past five days.

On Saturday, Moroccan King Mohammed VI spoke to Rayan’s parents and offered his condolences following the tragic accident.

* Writing by Ahmed Asmar