Morocco: Rescuers pull five-year-old boy from well after four days trapped inside

February 04, 2022

A five-year-old boy who spent four days trapped in a 32m (105ft) deep well has been pulled out by rescuers.

Footage from the scene in northern Morocco showed workers emerging from a tunnel - dug specifically for the rescue - carrying the boy.

An Associated Press reporter at the scene saw the child, called Rayan, wrapped in a yellow blanket.

It is not known what condition he is in.

His parents were taken to an ambulance before he emerged.

Rescue workers have been digging around the clock to rescue Rayan after he fell down the well on Tuesday night.

Search crews used five bulldozers to dig a vertical hole parallel to the one he was in before moving horizontally to reach him.

Efforts were paused temporarily on Friday over concerns that the ground surrounding the well could collapse.

On social media, thousands have expressed sympathy, with the hashtag #SaveRayan trending on Twitter for hours across the country.

His mother, Wassima Kharchich, previously told local media: "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."

Initially, workers had been able to provide him with oxygen and water using a rope, but the narrow diameter of the hole caused problems.

Medical staff were on site from the start of the rescue, with a helicopter on standby to transport Rayan to the nearest hospital.

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