Jeddah, Feb 16 (Emirates 247) : A Saudi man who witnessed the Gulf country’s founder and first king Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman al Saud died on Sunday at the age of 140 years.

'Sabq' newspaper said Ahmed bin Edwan Al Hilali died at his primitive house in an isolated rugged area near the western town of Taif.

“Hilali refused to listen to his sons and move to the city and preferred to remain where he is in a primitive isolated home in a cave. He simply was not tempted by the modern means of life and civilization and preferred to stick to the land where he was born and brought up,” the Arabic language daily 'Sabq' said.

“He was reputed among the people who had come to know him as a good, strong and noble man. He loved the land where he was born and preferred it over modern life. His many sons loved him for his perseverance, principles, strength and faith. Hliali had vowed to die in that land and his dream was finally fulfilled.”