Saving Rayan: Moroccan Boy Did Not Survive Fall Into 100-Foot-Deep Well

This is the story of Rayan, the Moroccan boy who kept the world on tenterhooks.

The rescue operation to save Rayan has ended, but unfortunately, the boy did not survive.

The five-year-old, whose life-threatening situation attracted international interest, was pulled from the well and taken to an ambulance. But then the news broke that the boy did not survive.

The child accidentally fell last Tuesday into a narrow 100-foot-deep dry well dug near the family’s residence in the village of Ighran, near the town of Bab Berred in Chefchaouen Province, Morocco.

The name “Rayan” derives from the Arabic word “rayyan” which means “radiant,” “luminous,” and beautiful. The word also refers to one of the gates of Paradise.

Saving Rayan: Tuesday afternoon

The child’s mother told the local press that her son fell into a well late Tuesday afternoon while accompanying his father, who because of the drought was trying to get water from the well, which had been dry for 10 years.

Since then, I have been following the compelling rescue operations taking place outside the village of Ighran.

The story of little Rayan reminded me of previous tragedies, but this time around, I was hoping that the rescue operation for the little Moroccan boy would be successful.

“That boy Is alive. we are gonna’ send somebody to find him. And we are gonna’ get him the hell… outta’ there!”

The quote comes from the movie Saving Private Ryan and inspired the headline for this article. As in the famous movie, the most important thing in Rayan’s story, in the end, was to get a boy back into his mother’s arms.

Saving Rayan: Friday evening

At around 8 p.m. (Moroccan time), rescue efforts for the five-year-old child entered their final phase as concrete clamps were placed to cover the last few meters and prevent the risk of a landslide.

Faced with the risk of the well collapsing, authorities were forced to change their strategy and proceed with caution.

According to local media, at that moment, only a little more than a meter separated the child from the rescue teams, but this is also the most critical phase.

More than 80 hours had passed since Rayan fell into the 100-foot-deep well. Night had fallen in Ighran, but the operation continued with floodlights.

Around the well where Rayan had fallen last Tuesday afternoon, thousands of people watched the rescue operation’s progress.

Experts noticed the risk of a landslide; hence the rescue teams placed concrete shackles and an empty metal water tank to secure a possible safe access route to the child.

Saving Rayan: Saturday evening

I kept following the latest news on Twitter and the live streaming broadcast by the various stations on the scene.

Minutes ago, I was ecstatic watching the crowd praying and then cheering as the child emerged from the dark pit where he was trapped.

My words of thanks go to the rescuers who worked tirelessly in record time for five long days hoping to save little Rayan.

Concluding remarks

Last Thursday, rescue teams provided the five-year-old with water and oxygen via a rope, and he responded positively to rescuers’ contacts over the past five days.

I read on Twitter that Rayan had multiple injuries, but without a medical referral, there was no certain news about the child’s condition.

An ambulance was on the scene and a helicopter was waiting nearby. I watched as the rescuers rushed to the ambulance, but unfortunately, Rayan did not survive.

My prayers are with Rayan and his family, friends and all the Moroccan people in this sad hour.