GLOUCESTER Two siblings being born on the same day in different years was unlikely enough. But when Kim MacKriell had a third child delivered on the same day, she beat odds of more than 130,000 to one.

Ruby MacKriell was born last month on January 29. Her brother, Robin, was born on January 29, 1994, and her sister, Rebecca, on January 29, 1996.

According to statisticians at the University of Cambridge and the London School of Economics, the chances of this happening are 7.5 in 1 million.

Ruby’s parents, Kim and Martin, from Gloucester, are both profoundly deaf. Speaking on their behalf yesterday, Robin, 14, and Rebecca, 12, told The Times of the family’s delight and amazement at the new arrival.

“It was just an accident that Ruby was born on the same day,” said Rebecca, “but I’m really happy about it. Our parents were quite pleased but also quite shocked at the same time.”

Ruby was due to be born on February 7, until doctors told Mrs MacKriell, 41, that she would need to have a Caesarean section. The only date that the hospital had free for the operation was January 29.

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