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Five members of Newport family die in Mecca taxi crash Five members of Newport family die in Mecca taxi crash
(about 1 hour later)
Five members of the same family from Newport have been killed in a taxi crash while on a pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.Five members of the same family from Newport have been killed in a taxi crash while on a pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
They have been named locally as Shaukat Ali Hayat, 56, his wife Abida, 47, eldest son Mohammed Isshaq, 33, daughter Saira Zenub and Mohammed's heavily pregnant wife, Bilques. Shaukat Ali Hayat, 56, his wife Abida, 47, eldest son Mohammed Isshaq, 33, daughter Saira Zenub and Mohammed's heavily pregnant wife, Bilques.
One-year-old Mohammed Eisa Daniel survived. One-year-old Mohammed Eisa Daniel survived the incident on Friday.
It is thought their taxi left a motorway on Friday.
A Foreign Office spokesman said consular assistance was being provided to relatives.A Foreign Office spokesman said consular assistance was being provided to relatives.
It has been reported that the cab hit a concrete bridge, somersaulted off the road and ended up in a ditch.It has been reported that the cab hit a concrete bridge, somersaulted off the road and ended up in a ditch.
The family had been in Saudi Arabia as part of the Umrah, a pilgrimage to Mecca by Muslims at any time of the year.The family had been in Saudi Arabia as part of the Umrah, a pilgrimage to Mecca by Muslims at any time of the year.
They were travelling to Jedda to meet relatives four hours away, the South Wales Argus reported. They were travelling to Jeddah to meet relatives four hours away, the South Wales Argus reported.
Baby survived Cradling
The newspaper said one of the family members killed was due to be married this weekend.The newspaper said one of the family members killed was due to be married this weekend.
Rescuers initially thought the whole family had died, but they found Shaukat Ali Hayat, 56, cradling one-year-old Mohammed in the wreckage.Rescuers initially thought the whole family had died, but they found Shaukat Ali Hayat, 56, cradling one-year-old Mohammed in the wreckage.
The child suffered a dislocated shoulder and a broken arm and ribs, said the paper.The child suffered a dislocated shoulder and a broken arm and ribs, said the paper.
Twenty members of the family are reported to have travelled to Saudi Arabia to take the baby back to Newport. It quoted Shaukat Ali Hayat's brother, Sma Hayat, 58, as saying his sibling was a "well loved and liked" teacher and writer of Islam.
He also described Saira Zenub as a "very talented" locum pharmacist, while Mohammed Isshaq was hoping to do a PhD in neuroscience at university, having excelled in his studies.
"This is one of the most shocking tragedies in Welsh history involving a Muslim family," he added.
"Shaukat saw what happened as the car went out of control. He grabbed the baby, clutched it in his arms and cushioned him.
"The boy [Mohammed] has lost everyone but luckily he's pulled through.
"We would like to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts for their support."
Shaukat Ali Hayat's brother Ibrahim is a Labour councillor and the family had been involved in campaigning for the party.
Ron Jones, councillor for Newport's Pillgwenlly ward, said: "They were a tremendous family. They worked for us during the election.
"They were deeply involved in the community and were absolutely upstanding.
"There are a lot of people who are going to feel their passing very deeply.
Charity work
"Ibrahim has gone out there to help arrange the funeral. I've spoken to him and he's absolutely devastated.
"It's a massive and unbelievable tragedy."
The family were also involved in a charity work in and around Newport and in 2010 they helped raise funds for victims of flooding in Pakistan.
They were buried in Jannat-ul-Baqi cemetary in Medina, with about 20 relatives there who had flown out to Saudi Arabia.
The graveyard is a holy site for Muslims with wives and relatives of Islamic prophet Muhammad buried there.
Relatives will bring Mohammed Eisa Danial back to the UK where he will receive further medical treatment.
The family remembered with a service on Monday at the Jamia Hanfia Rizvia Mosque in Newport.
They were in Saudi Arabia performing Umrah - a pilgrimage to Mecca by Muslims at any time of the year.
An Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware of a tragic accident in Saudi Arabia.An Foreign Office spokesman 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.""We can confirm that British nationals were involved in the crash and we are providing consular assistance at this difficult time."