Morocco was in mourning on Sunday after rescue workers brought out the body of a 5-year-old boy who had been trapped in an underground well in northern Morocco since Tuesday.

Many had hoped that Rayan would survive the last five days despite low temperatures. He had fallen down a narrow 32-meter (100-foot) deep well in the village of Ighran in the country’s Chefchaouen province on Tuesday and his body was retrieved on Saturday.

The multiday rescue effort had brought international focus.

His death was confirmed by state news channel 2M who also tweeted a statement from King Mohammed VI, along with a tribute to Rayan which read: “In God’s protection… We belong to God and to Him, we shall return.”

الله يصبر اهله ويربط على قلوبهم

— #مبادرة_طارق .. Lud (@LudainNour) February 5, 2022

The king expressed his condolences to Rayan’s parents in a statement from the palace.

Earlier, rescue workers said it was difficult to ascertain Rayan’s condition, and many had hoped that it would be possible to preserve the child’s life.

Lead rescuer Abdelhadi Tamrani told state television, “we hope we will rescue him alive.”

Thousands took to social media to express their solidarity for the boy and his family, with the Arabic hashtag #SaveRayan trending for hours in Morocco and North Africa.

Paris-Saint Germain player and Moroccan national soccer player Achraf Hakimi shared a drawing of Rayan on his Instagram page with the caption “To God, we belong and to God, we return” in Arabic.
Several European soccer clubs also shared their condolences on their Arabic social media pages, including Sevilla FC, Barcelona FC, and Manchester United.
Moroccan newspapers also expressed sympathy. “The fall of a child who reminded the whole world of the values of humanity,” read one Moroccan newspaper headline, while others lamented the “tragic epilogue” that had brought “sadness and shock.”

Hhmmm….this is heartbreaking!

Rest in peace Rayan. May God console your family.