Grief and shock engulfed millions in Morocco and around the world when Rayan Aourram, 5, was pronounced dead, shortly after rescuers finally reached him late on Saturday.
They had followed transfixed the desperate attempt to save the child who had been trapped at the bottom of deep well for five days in a small town on the outskirts of the northern city of Chefchaouen.
Condolences and expressions of solidarity, led by Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, began pouring in to Rayan’s family from all over the world soon after his death was confirmed.
No funeral time had been announced on Sunday evening as the boy's body underwent a post-mortem at a military hospital in the capital Rabat.
Social media platforms trended with hashtags in sympathy for the child and his family, whose home town of Bab Berred became the centre of global attention as local and international news outlets reported on his rescue.
Rayan’s ordeal began on Tuesday, when he fell into the narrow 32-metre deep well near his house while his father took a brief break from working on it. The family searched for hours before realising Rayan was in the well, having fallen through an opening less than 40 centimetres across.
Their emotional turmoil was shared by millions through minute-by-minute coverage of the effort to save his life.
Nerve-racking wait
Taha Ben Ali, a student in the northern Moroccan city of Meknes, said he could not sleep through it all.
“I have never experienced a more traumatising incident,” he told The National. “Rayan’s severe suffering united all Moroccans and Arabs, and sadness consumed all homes.
“We were waiting for a miracle and for Rayan to return to us safely. But God’s destiny is above all. May he grant us all strength.”
Progress in digging a hole alongside the well had been slowed by the composition of the soil, and fears of a collapse meant the final excavation of a horizontal tunnel towards Rayan had to be done manually. Despite these obstacles, hope had remained that he would be brought out alive.
Speaking to The National hours before rescuers reached Rayan, his father, Khalid, said he was not sure if his son was aware of his surroundings.
Khalid’s nephew, Hamza, said the child was unable to consume any of the food and water that was lowered to him. “We are all desperately waiting for his recovery,” he said.
From euphoria to grief
Cheers of jubilation and religious chants broke out among the hundreds of people from across the country who had camped at the rescue site when medics quickly transferred Rayan to an ambulance that had been waiting for days.
Exhausted by the wait and anticipation, the crowd soon dispersed, waiting to hear official reports of Rayan’s condition. When a statement from the Royal Office broke the news of his death soon after, Morocco was overcome by grief that rippled across the region, and the world.
Fatma Al Zahraa Jarf, from the central town of Missour, said her heart was with the young boy as he resisted death alone.
I cried with joy when he was recovered, and it has been an agonising heartbreak since then
Fatma Al Zahraa Jarf,
resident of Missour
“I cried with joy when he was recovered, and it has been an agonising heartbreak since then. We lived in hope that the little hero would be reunited with his parents, and that everyone involved in the rescue would celebrate a triumph against death,” she said.
“May the little champion rest in peace.”
An air of silent mourning hung over the country on Sunday, with little conversation among people on the streets.
A woman in her fifties, in the eastern city of Wajda, said she had a restless night. “The image of Rayan haunted me through the night. May the poor child rest in peace,” said the woman.
A devastating story
For journalists who had been at the site for days, engaging with Rayan’s family and home town as they relayed live the developments in the rescue effort to those eagerly following in the country and beyond, the impact of his death has been profound.
Mohamed Adel Tatou, a journalist with the independent al3omk news website, said reporting this story very stressful and distressing.
I’m in a bad state. I am barely able to sleep
Mohamed Adel Tatou,
journalist
“I don’t feel like myself. I’m in a bad state. I am barely able to sleep,” he said.
Hammad Lekbeer, a reporter with Hibapress, said Saturday evening was one of the toughest experiences he has had in years, “with the collapse of the hope that filled our hearts”.
Comparing the dispersal of the crowd after Rayan's death was announced to “a scene from a tragic film”, he described how about 300 vehicles carrying more than 1,000 people stretched over two kilometres as they left the area, in what looked like a funeral procession.
Needless tragedy
Rayan’s death has also stirred anger among some, and triggered calls for authorities to address the danger of unfenced and abandoned wells.
Rayan’s cousin Hamza said such wells were common in the mountainous region where residents struggle with water scarcity and must bore deep into the ground to secure their needs.
Bloggers and social media users urged authorities to fill in unused wells, and prosecute those fail to comply with safety regulations.
Hassan El Hafa, who has more than 150,000 followers on Facebook, wrote: “After the death of Rayan the child as a result of negligence in fencing the open well — which was the main reason for his departure from this world — a national campaign must be conducted to reduce the loss of lives due to negligence, indifference and recklessness, by identifying, and calling for the fencing, marking, and installation of warning signs, along with everything that might repeat the tragedy.”
This story has been published in collaboration with Egab.
Graduated from the American University of Sharjah
She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters
Has helped solve 15 cases of electric shocks
Enjoys travelling, reading and horse riding
Four motivational quotes from Alicia's Dubai talk
“The only thing we need is to know that we have faith. Faith and hope in our own dreams. The belief that, when we keep going we’re going to find our way. That’s all we got.”
“Sometimes we try so hard to keep things inside. We try so hard to pretend it’s not really bothering us. In some ways, that hurts us more. You don’t realise how dishonest you are with yourself sometimes, but I realised that if I spoke it, I could let it go.”
“One good thing is to know you’re not the only one going through it. You’re not the only one trying to find your way, trying to find yourself, trying to find amazing energy, trying to find a light. Show all of yourself. Show every nuance. All of your magic. All of your colours. Be true to that. You can be unafraid.”
“It’s time to stop holding back. It’s time to do it on your terms. It’s time to shine in the most unbelievable way. It’s time to let go of negativity and find your tribe, find those people that lift you up, because everybody else is just in your way.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
SPECS
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UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
It
Director: Andres Muschietti
Starring: Bill Skarsgard, Jaeden Lieberher, Sophia Lillis, Chosen Jacobs, Jeremy Ray Taylor
Three stars
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ovasave%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20November%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Majd%20Abu%20Zant%20and%20Torkia%20Mahloul%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Healthtech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Three%20employees%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Pre-seed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24400%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Champions parade (UAE timings)
7pm Gates open
8pm Deansgate stage showing starts
9pm Parade starts at Manchester Cathedral
9.45pm Parade ends at Peter Street
10pm City players on stage
11pm event ends
THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 275hp at 6,600rpm
Torque: 353Nm from 1,450-4,700rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Top speed: 250kph
Fuel consumption: 6.8L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: Dh146,999
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProcessor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Apple%20M3%2C%208-core%20CPU%2C%20up%20to%2010-core%20CPU%2C%2016-core%20Neural%20Engine%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2013.6-inch%20Liquid%20Retina%2C%202560%20x%201664%2C%20224ppi%2C%20500%20nits%2C%20True%20Tone%2C%20wide%20colour%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMemory%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%2F16%2F24GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStorage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20256%2F512GB%20%2F%201%2F2TB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EI%2FO%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Thunderbolt%203%2FUSB-4%20(2)%2C%203.5mm%20audio%2C%20Touch%20ID%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConnectivity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Wi-Fi%206E%2C%20Bluetooth%205.3%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2052.6Wh%20lithium-polymer%2C%20up%20to%2018%20hours%2C%20MagSafe%20charging%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECamera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201080p%20FaceTime%20HD%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EVideo%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Support%20for%20Apple%20ProRes%2C%20HDR%20with%20Dolby%20Vision%2C%20HDR10%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAudio%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204-speaker%20system%2C%20wide%20stereo%2C%20support%20for%20Dolby%20Atmos%2C%20Spatial%20Audio%20and%20dynamic%20head%20tracking%20(with%20AirPods)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EColours%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Midnight%2C%20silver%2C%20space%20grey%2C%20starlight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIn%20the%20box%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20MacBook%20Air%2C%2030W%2F35W%20dual-port%2F70w%20power%20adapter%2C%20USB-C-to-MagSafe%20cable%2C%202%20Apple%20stickers%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh4%2C599%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Packages which the US Secret Service said contained possible explosive devices were sent to:
- Former first lady Hillary Clinton
- Former US president Barack Obama
- Philanthropist and businessman George Soros
- Former CIA director John Brennan at CNN's New York bureau
- Former Attorney General Eric Holder (delivered to former DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz)
- California Congresswoman Maxine Waters (two devices)
Company profile
Date started: December 24, 2018
Founders: Omer Gurel, chief executive and co-founder and Edebali Sener, co-founder and chief technology officer
Based: Dubai Media City
Number of employees: 42 (34 in Dubai and a tech team of eight in Ankara, Turkey)
Sector: ConsumerTech and FinTech
Cashflow: Almost $1 million a year
Funding: Series A funding of $2.5m with Series B plans for May 2020
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
THE SPECS
Range Rover Sport Autobiography Dynamic
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 518bhp
Torque: 625Nm
Speed: 0-100kmh 5.3 seconds
Price: Dh633,435
On sale: now
Expert advice
“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”
Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles
“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”
Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”
Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
The Norwegian Nobel Committee, which awards the prestigious peace prize, held its final meeting on Monday, the Nobel Institute said on Thursday, a day ahead of the announcement of the 2025 laureate.
This means a decision was made about the laureate or laureates before the conclusion of an agreement between Israel and Hamas, which included a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
President Donald Trump pushed for the ceasefire as part of a 20-point plan to resolve the Gaza war.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
