The body of eight-month-old Fadhili Rama who fell into a 48-metre  deep borehole on Christmas Day in Mtopanga area was finally retrieved yesterday.

The body was recovered at exactly 9.00pm after remaining trapped in the hole for 11 days and 11 days after  an exhausting search by Mombasa County fire officers and gallant local volunteers.

“It has been an uphill task but took time to ensure the body was finally retrieved,” said Jefferson Maingi, a volunteer and the last man in the hole who retrieved the body.

Mombasa County Executive in charge of transport Taufiq Balala said the body was presented to the parents for viewing and later handed over to police.

“We thank all those involved in the search and all those who stood by us day and night to ensure the success of this mission.

We would have wanted to rescue the child’s life but unfortunately it didn’t happen…

The body has now been handed over to Police and later he will be buried in accordance with Islamic protocols,” Balala said shortly after the retrieval on Wednesday night.

The deceased alongside her mother Lilian Kimote and her elder sister had traveled from their home in Mtwapa to celebrate Christmas and New Year festivities at a family friend – Bernard Opondo’s home in Mtopanga when the unfortunate incident happened.

On the fateful Christmas day, the late Fadhili had dropped into an unfinished borehole that was left unattended in the neighbourhood adjacent to Opondo’s house. 

The deceased reportedly stepped on a rugged piece of synthetic carpet covering the hole.