Grieving parents of boy, 5, receive honorary protection after rescuers pulled the boy’s body from a 100ft Morocco well

The heartbreaking parents of a five-year-old boy who died after being pulled from a 100ft well have been given an honor guard.

Small Rayan Awram spent more than 100 hours trapped in a pitch-black 18-inch space in Morocco.

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Desperate rescuers made an incredible attempt to free the boy and he was finally freed last night.

But tragically the king of Morocco confirmed shortly after Rayan died from his wounds.

His devastated parents last night were awarded an honorary guard by brave rescuers after their son’s body was recovered.

Rayan’s father, who was repairing the well at the time of the accident, had previously expressed hope the boy would make it through.

He said: “I always hope that my baby will come out of the well alive. I thank all those involved and those who have supported us in Morocco and elsewhere.”

His tearful mother, Wassima Kharchich, added: “The whole family was looking for him when we realized that he had fallen into a well.

“I prayed and prayed to God that he got out of that well alive and safe. God, ease my pain, and him, in that dusty pit.”

A massive rescue effort has been launched after Rayan fell into a 100ft well on Tuesday while playing in his hometown of Ighrane in Chefchaouen province.

Rayan’s father was repairing the well at the time and said he couldn’t take his eyes off him for a moment.

Crews lowered a camera, oxygen tanks and water onto a rope to reach the boy during the rescue, but it is not known if he will be able to use them.

Heartbreaking photos show him bleeding at the bottom of the shaft.

His plight has captivated people around the world with the #SaveRayan trend on social media.

The rescue operation is hampered by Rayan’s narrow space as no adults can reach him.

CONTRACTORS

The shaft extension was also deemed too risky in case it collapsed and buried him alive.

The bulldozer eventually cleared a 100ft deep void before gently clearing a 10ft horizontal tunnel to Rayan.

However, efforts were hampered by the sensitivity of the situation as any vibrations from the drilling could collapse the brittle soil on the child.

Teams finally reached Rayan 96 hours after his fall when rescuers formed a human chain between the site and an ambulance to get Rayan out of the tiny space.

Cheers rang out at the site as Rayan – wrapped in a yellow blanket – was taken to a waiting ambulance.

But their joy was short-lived after tragedy unfolded.

The case has echoes of two-year-old Julen Rosello, who fell into a well near Malaga, Spain, in January 2019.

Rescuers dug two tunnels to try to save him, but they eventually found him dead after 13 days.

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