Officials have announced that the five-year-old boy who fell 104ft (32 meters) down a well in Morocco has died.
The child, named as Rayan Oram, fell into the narrow opening of the deep well on Tuesday. The incident occurred in the small northern town of Tamorot in the Chefchaouen region.
Per ABC News, Morocco's King Mohamed VI offered his condolences to Rayan's family in an official statement via state television, as the arduous operation came to a heartbreaking conclusion
Per The Independent, the Moroccan TV channel 2M tweeted an official statement announcing that King Mohammed VI had called Rayan’s parents to "express his deepest condolences and sincere sympathy to all members of the family of the deceased in this painful affliction".
The statement adds:
"[King Mohammed VI] also expressed his appreciation for the tireless efforts made by the various authorities and public forces, and the collective activities, and for the strong solidarity and broad sympathy received by the family of the deceased, from various Moroccan groups and families, in this painful circumstance.
"In conclusion, His Majesty the King assured the family of the deceased his sympathy and unwavering care."
As reported by BBC News, the rescue efforts of Moroccan authorities quickly became national news - being broadcast live on television - and soon made global headlines as the days went on. The hashtag '#SaveRayan' also started to trend on social media platforms.
In an effort to keep Rayan alive, rescuers dropped down food and water from up above, as well as an oxygen mask. Cameras were also lowered down to routinely check on Rayan's well-being.
Thousands of civilians reportedly gathered at the scene to witness the rescue mission and provide support for those undertaking the efforts.
The rescue efforts were carried out by Morocco's Civil Protection Directorate, BBC News adds.
The mixture of rocky and sandy soils, combined with fears of a landslide, meant that workers feared opening the water well's narrow shaft.
Instead, bulldozers were used to forge a large trench adjacent to the well, allowing rescuers to dig horizontally in an effort to reach Rayan.
A medical team had been on standby for when Rayan was pulled from the well.
Our thoughts go out to Rayan's family and friends, and anybody else affected by this tragic story.
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