Conjoined twins die in hospital after three weeks

The conjoined twins born nearly three weeks ago in London sharing a heart and liver died in Great Ormond Street Hospital yesterday.

Natasha and Courtney Smithhad been given only a small chance of survival by doctors.

Their parents, Tina May, 23, and Dennis Smith, 33, from St Albans, Hertfordshire, were at their daughters' bedside when their condition deteriorated. They died at 5.50pm.

Professor Lewis Spitz, professor of paediatric surgery at Great Ormond Street, said: "We offer our sincere condolences to their parents during this extremely sad and difficult time.

"These unhappy events are broadly as we expected. The structure of, and the blood supply to, the twins' heart was so complex and abnormal that separation was not considered possible. The staff involved in their care at Great Ormond Street did everything possible to make their short lives as comfortable as possible."

The babies were born at Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital in west London on 29 April, four weeks early and weighing just 4.42kg (9lb 12oz). They were joined from the belly button to the top of the chest, and were described as "exceptionally rare" by the team that delivered them.

Doctors told their parents that Courtney would inevitably die if Natasha was to survive as the heart was largely situated in the body of her sister. They were also told that Natasha's chances of survival would be slim as no baby in medical history had lived for more than a few months after such a separation.

Ms May said: "Even though their little lives were so short, we have been left with some beautiful memories of them. Despite our grief, we do not regret our decision to give them a chance of life."