Morocco: boy trapped in well dies before rescuers reach him

A small boy trapped in a well in northern Morocco for five days died before rescuers managed to reach him late on Saturday, two government officials said.

Rayan Awram, aged five, fell into the well at his village of Ighara in the hills near Chefchaouen on Tuesday, triggering a huge rescue effort that engrossed the country.

Rescuers finally managed to retrieve his body late on Saturday after removing much of the adjacent hillside and delicately tunnelling a horizontal passage into the well.

King Mohammed sent condolences to his parents, a statement carried by state media reported.

Pictures on Moroccan media had shown Rayan huddled at the bottom of the disused well, which narrows as it descends from its 45cm (18in) opening, preventing rescuers from descending.