Five members of a British family in Makkah to perform Umrah died when their taxi veered off the road and slammed into a concrete bridge. A one-year-old child, however, survived.
The accident occurred as the family was returning from Makkah to Jeddah on Makkah Road.
Killed in the weekend accident were: Mohammed Isshaq Hayat, 33; his sister, Saira Zenub Hayat, 30; Mohammed’s wife, Bilques, 31, who was pregnant and was due to give birth in two months; Mohammed and Saira’s father, Shaukat Ali Hayat, 56, and his wife Abida, 47. The toddler, Mohammed Eisa Danial Hayat, son of Bilques, was the only survivor.
Mohammed was discovered cradled in his grandfather’s arms. The grandfather apparently attempted to cushion the boy from the impact.
Great-uncle Sma Hayat, 58, told British tabloid The Sun, “He (the grandfather) grabbed the baby, clutched him in his and cushioned him, his actions saved his life.
“The boy has lost everyone but luckily he has pulled through.”
The boy suffered a dislocated shoulder, broken arm and ribs. He was due to return to Wales.
Saira was due to be married this week and had wanted to make the pilgrimage before her wedding.
Sma told the newspaper that just before the crash, he received a text message from Saira complaining that the taxi was traveling “too fast.”
Sma said the driver fell asleep at the wheel. A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: “We are aware of a tragic accident in Saudi Arabia.
“We can confirm that British nationals were involved in the crash and we are providing consular assistance at this difficult time.”
