Eight-year-old Khizir's final farewell: hundreds of thousands share his family's grief
The body of eight-year-old Khizir Derbichev, who disappeared in the Sunzha River eight days ago and was found today, was laid to rest in Ingushetia. According to Islamic tradition, the deceased must be buried before sunset that same day.
After the boy was found, he was washed and then buried.
All these days, hundreds of thousands of people—primarily in the North Caucasus, but also far beyond—followed the search for the child with anxiety and hope. They prayed for Khizir in mosques, distributed alms, and supported his family.
Thousands of volunteers from Ingushetia and neighboring republics joined the search operation, assisting local volunteers and emergency services personnel. Khizir Derbichev's story united people of different ages and nationalities, becoming a shared sorrow for many residents of the region.
Eight-year-old Khizir will be remembered as a little hero who proved that courage has no age limit. On the Sunzha River, he rushed to the aid of a drowning friend, telling a third boy, "Come on, we're men, let's save him." He saved his friend, but lost control of the current, and after a long search, he was found dead.
