The five-year-old, Ryan Oram, fell last Tuesday in a well in the village of Igran in the Chefchaouen province in northern Morocco, and his body was recovered late on Saturday evening, after efforts that included removing a large part of a nearby hill, before digging a horizontal tunnel towards the bottom of the well to reach it.
Rescuers worked tirelessly and under constant threat of a landslide during their efforts, which ultimately failed to retrieve the child alive.
On Monday, large crowds attended the funeral of the Moroccan child Rayan, in his hometown in the village of Igran.
Commenting on the tragic incident, State Department spokesman Ned Price said: Today, we share grief with the people of Morocco mourns the death of 5-year-old Ryan Oram, who tragically died after falling into a well in the northern region of the country last week, despite a heroic four-day rescue operation..
“Like millions around the world, we are astonished by the dedication of the rescue team and the solidarity of the Moroccan people, as they pin hope on Rayan’s survival,” he added.
Price concluded his speech by saying, “We extend our deepest condolences to Rayan’s family and all Moroccans.”
