Boy, 5, seen trapped & bleeding at bottom of 100ft well after THREE DAYS in desperate race to dig tunnel and rescue him

RESCUERS were racing against time today to reach a boy who fell 100ft down a disused well three days ago in Morocco. Pictures show Rayan, five, bleeding at the bottom of the shaft as digging was agonisingly halted over fears the ground is unstable. Rayan’s bleeding face is seen on rescue mission images shown on Moroccan media Rescuers lowered water and oxygen 100ft down the narrow shaft where he is trapped Heavy diggers have dug 100ft down to try to reach the boy from the side The images were taken by a camera on a rope that rescuers used to lower oxygen and water to the injured boy down the narrow passage. Hundreds of anxious locals gathered to watch the dangerous and complex rescue mission. The shaft is less than 18 inches across and narrows lower down – too small for anyone to navigate – and widening it was deemed too risky. So heavy machines were brought in to excavate a trench in an effort to reach the boy from the side and pull him free. Digging continued all through last night lit by floodlights. Early this morning firefighters said the operation was nearing its end. Most read in News MURDER PROBE Woman 'raped & murdered' by 3 men in horror attack had just got out of jail TRAGIC END 'Octomum' who lost all eight of her babies dies aged 56 after cancer battle SADIST'S SHAME Girl, 16, who murdered doctor wore blanket during cop quiz to look innocent BORIS KNIFED Boris publicly knifed by Rishi as four of PM's top aides quit No10 ASSAULT RAP Ex-footie star charged with sex assault after 'woman in 20s attacked in a bar' TURK-ING THE MICK I racked up a £192k phone bill in just FOUR DAYS on holiday in Turkey But digging was later halted on safety grounds. Experts said it was feared the layers of rock and sand are unstable and could collapse in on the boy. “We’re almost there,” said one of the operation’s leaders, Abdesalam Makoudi. “We’ve been working non-stop for three days and tiredness is kicking in, but the whole rescue team is hanging on.” The bulldozers have already dug to a depth of over 100ft, rescuers said. Now preparations are being made for the most dangerous part, digging a horizontal 10ft tunnel. Engineers are on site to assess the risk of landslip and advise on the best method. “The child’s rescue is approaching,” government spokesman Mustapha Baitas said. “Our hearts are with the family, and we are praying that he will back with them as soon as possible.” Doctors and a helicopter are on standby to take him to hospital. Rayan went missing while playing in his home village Ighrane in Chefchaouen province on Tuesday afternoon. His tearful mother Wassima Kharchich told Moroccan media: “The whole family went out to look for him then we realised that he’d fallen down the well. “I pray and beg God that he comes out of that well alive and safe. Please God, ease my pain and his, in that hole of dust.” The search has gripped the North African country, with #SaveRayan trending on social media. PSG and Morocco footballer Achraf Hakimi posted a broken heart emoji and hands together in prayer. Manchester City’s Algerian star Riyad Mahrez joined the chorus of well wishes, sharing a photo of Rayan on Facebook with the hashtag “Stay Strong”. The case has echoes of little Julen Rosello, two, who fell down a 250ft well shaft near Malaga, Spain, in January 2019. Rescuers dug two tunnels in an effort to save him, but finally they found him dead after 13 days. The dangerous recsue mission continued through the night lit by floodlights Rescuers have been working flat-out for three days in northern Morocco Engineers halted digging fearing the earth could collapse on the trapped boy