Morocco emergency workers race to rescue 5-year-old child trapped for three days in deep well

Moroccan authorities and firefighters work to get five-year-old child Rayan out of a well.
Moroccan authorities and firefighters work to get five-year-old child Rayan out of a well. Photo credit: Getty Images

Emergency workers are digging carefully to try to rescue a 5-year old child who has been trapped for three days in a well in northern Morocco, a government spokesman said on Thursday, a case that has gripped the country after video footage showed him still alive.

The child fell into the 32-metre (100-foot) deep well near the northern city of Chefchaouen on Tuesday, local time.

Another view of the Moroccan well rescue
Photo credit: Getty Images

On Thursday local time, media reported that he had taken food and water that was dropped down to him using a rope.

Rescuers are digging in parallel to the well in an effort to save the child.

The well’s diameter narrows as it descends, from 45 cm (18 inches) at the top, preventing rescuers from going down themselves to bring him up, a lead rescuer told state TV Al Oula.