Emergency service carrying the body of five-year-old Rayan after retrieving him from a 32-metre well Photo- AFP
Ighran – Five -year-old Rayan Oram’s last act was unifying the world, who prayed for his safety and return, following his painstaking five-day ordeal.
‘Little Rayan’ – as he has come to be known – fell into a 32-metre dry well located on his family’s property in Ighran in Morocco’s mountainous northern Chefchaouen province. His family searched for him until they found the well, without its cover, with small footprints nearby. They confirmed his location using a phone camera after they had heard his voice. Once traditional methods of getting the boy out had failed, local authorities were alerted to the situation.
Rayan’s father was repairing the well at the time which is why the well had been left uncovered. He told local media the next day that his son had fallen down the well “at the one time I had taken my eyes off him.” The village has a population of about 500 people and these wells are used to irrigate their cannabis plants which is the only means of income for this poverty-stricken village.
Efforts to reach Rayan through the same shaft he had fallen in proved unsuccessful. The well is 45 centimetres wide at the top and slowly gets narrower as it goes down which made direct rescue from volunteers impossible. At that time, it was decided to dig a tunnel parallel to the well to reach him.
It was at this time that #SaveRayan started to trend in Morocco, Algeria, France and indeed across the globe as more people became aware of the situation. Water, food, and oxygen were lowered down to the boy, but it was unclear if he was drinking and eating. A camera was also lowered down to monitor him.
People from all over came to see the rescue attempt including women from a nearby village who took it upon themselves to make food for the rescuers, journalists and those supporting the rescuer effort. A local resident, Hafid El-Azzouz, told AFP news agency that he was there to, “show solidarity with this child who is dear to Morocco and the whole world.”
When rescuers finally reached Rayan, it was late evening. Cheers of joy broke out throughout the world while people around the well could be heard shouting Allahu Akbar (God is great). However, that happiness was short-lived as rescuers huddled tightly around Rayan, covered in gold foil, and rushed him towards an awaiting ambulance. No one was able to tell if the boy was alive or not.
As quickly as joy filled the air, it was snatched away and replaced with silence, sorrow, and tears.
International figures such as Moroccan football player Ashraf Hakimi also took to his social media to express his heartache.
Moroccan novelist, Laila Lalamli expressed her grief on twitter saying: “We, all of us, had been holding out hope that little Rayan would make it. This is all so tragic.”
Ali Sahraoui, a well-drilling expert who hails from the southern parts of Morocco was praised online for his efforts. It was said Sahraoui had dug with his hands for more than 100 straight hours to help in Rayan’s rescue operation.
Sarah Zaaimi, a Moroccan journalist, said she was informed by friends that Rayan wanted to be a teacher when he grew up. He might have not known it but in four days he was the world’s teacher. He taught us that by standing together, we could move mountains and achieve great things. The lesson he left us with is simple; humanity is at its best when we stand together.
