A Northern Irish couple who conceived quintuplets naturally against odds of 10,000 to one have spoken of their “utter sadness” at the death of one of the Conway sextuplets.

Noel and Rhonda Loughran from Dungannon, Co Tyrone, who became parents of the five in 2002, said their “hearts go out” to Nuala and Austin Conway after their baby girl Kerrie died.

But Mr and Mrs Loughran who gave birth to the 12th naturally-conceived set of quins since records began said that although one of the sextuplets died, the Conways will always be remembered as six children.

“When we first heard the news that they had been born it was just lovely, we were so pleased,” Mrs Loughran said.

“My heart goes out to them. All you can do at this stage is offer your condolences to the family, and the mother and the father.

“The Conways are always going to be seen as sextuplets.

“Even though there will physically be five, to real immediate family they will always be seen as sextuplets. The little girl will never be forgotten.”

Mrs Loughran said one of her children had been ill at birth: “We were on a rollercoaster for months being told from the beginning that Conan wouldn’t make it.

“It was the toughest time ever, even to hear the chances of survival was slim was awful. You never knew what to expect. So goodness only knows how the Conways are feeling. But they have our deepest condolences. To hear that a baby hasn’t survived is just devastating.”

She added: “When you hear news like this you feel so lucky.”