Mecca
The Hayat family were on a pilgrimage to Mecca when they were killed (Wiki Commons)

Five members of the same Newport, South Wales, family have been killed in a car crash in Saudi Arabia.

Shaukat Ali Hayat, 56, his wife Abida, 47, their daughter Saira Zenub, eldest son Mohammed Isshaq, 33, and his wife Bilques, were killed after their taxi driver fell asleep at the wheel.

According to the South Wales Argus, Bilques was seven months pregnant.

The only survivor was one-year-old Mohammed Hayat, who survived because his grandfather had protected him with his body. Rescuers found the baby cradled in his grandfather's arms.

The baby sustained a dislocated shoulder, a broken arm and broken ribs.

The family had been visiting Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah, a pilgrimage to Mecca, prior to Zenub getting married.

The family from the Newport district of Pillgwenlly were picked up at the airport by taxi for the four-hour journey to Jeddha to meet relatives.

Shocking tragedy

Sma Hayat, 58, Shaukat Hayat's brother, said that Zenub had texted her sister while they were in the car complaining that the driver was going too fast.

It is believed he fell asleep and the car hit a concrete bridge support, somersaulted the motorway and landed in a ditch.

Speaking about his brother, Sma Hayat said: "He saw what happened as the car went out of control.

"He grabbed the baby, clutched it in his arms and cushioned him.

"This is one of the most shocking tragedies in Welsh history involving a Muslim family. The boy has lost everyone but luckily he's pulled through."

Family members flew to Saudi Arabia to take take the baby back to Newport.

The dead will be buried in the Al-Baqi' cemetery in Medina, a prestigious graveyard where relatives of the Prophet Muhammad are said to be interred.