The child, who was rescued on Saturday after five days of mobilization, ultimately did not survive his fall into a well located in northern Morocco.
It is a drama that will have held an entire country in suspense for five days. Fell into a well in northern Morocco on Tuesday, five-year-old Rayan did not survive his fall, authorities said on Saturday, when rescuers finally managed to reach the child. Since then, tributes have poured in. From Morocco first, but also from all over the world. Because the situation of the little boy moved well beyond the borders of the Cherifian kingdom.
“We share their pain”
A sign of the strong emotion caused by the tragedy, it was the royal cabinet which announced the death of the five-year-old child on Saturday evening.
“Following the tragic accident which cost the life of the child Rayan Oram, His Majesty King Mohammed VI called the parents of the deceased, who died after falling into a well”, we learned in a press release.
On the other side of the Mediterranean, President Emmanuel Macron also reacted to the announcement of Rayan’s death, in a Facebook post written in French and Arabic. “Tonight, I want to tell the family of little Rayan and the Moroccan people that we share their pain”.
Yannick Jadot, environmental candidate for the presidential election, also reacted on Twitter. “No one should have to go through this kind of drama,” he wrote.
Also on Twitter, in Arabic and Hebrew, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett offered his condolences to the child’s family.
Thousands of supporters on site
Algerian AC Milan international Ismaël Bennacer shared an illustration showing the child hanging from a heart-shaped balloon in the colors of Morocco. Accompanied by a caption: “Rayan’s courage will be remembered and will continue to inspire us”. On Instagram, in an ephemeral publication, Karim Benzema also paid tribute to the little boy.
Anne Hidalgo, mayor of Paris and socialist candidate in the presidential election, meanwhile testified to his “tremendous sadness”. Marlène Schiappa, Minister Delegate for Citizenship, paid tribute to the “rescuers who tried everything”.
After the fall of the child on Tuesday, thousands of supporters had rushed in a sign of solidarity and camped on the spot, in this mountainous area of the Rif, at nearly 700 meters above sea level. On Saturday, when the death of the child was announced, the crowd, gathered for days, dispersed in mournful silence.
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