The 5-year-old boy who fell 100 feet down a well, prompting a grueling four-day rescue effort, has died, according to the Moroccan royal palace.
A statement published Saturday said the king had spoken with the parents of the boy, Rayan Oram, and expressed his condolences, according to the Associated Press.
The daring rescue attempt drew international headlines and captivated social media users, who used the hashtag #SaveRayan to cheer on efforts to save the little boy. Thousands watched livestreams of the ongoing rescue and crowds of spectators gathered near the well in the village of Ighran, in Morocco's Chefchaouen province.
The rescue was complicated by fears of a landslide and collapsing soil. Workers were unable to safely pull the boy out or expand the opening of the well, and instead dug out a massive trench parallel to the well, then tunneled horizontally to reach Rayan.
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