The parents of quintuplets have tragically revealed they’ve lost “an amazing angel”.
Henry James, who was just three days old, passed away in hospital on Wednesday.
His British dad Vincent Clarke broke the sad news to the Daily Mirror and said they were struggling with the loss.
Henry was the fifth of two boys and three girls, born through caesarean section on Sunday.
Heartbroken mum Dominika and her husband Vince Clarke said they were “devastated” after the newborn, they’d nicknamed ‘little Henry’, died.
The quintuplets were born in the pregnancy’s 28th week, at the University Hospital in Krakow, Poland, weighing between 25-49 ounces.
They were all put in incubators and given various degrees of breathing support and described by medics as “stable”.
Their mum, Dominika, 37, and husband Vince, 55, who live in Poland, told of their joy after their ‘miracle’ births.
But on Wednesday they were given the tragic news Henry had died and now have the agony of explaining to their other seven children - aged from ten months to 12 years old.
Vince said: “We are going to tell them we have an angel guiding us now!”
Software engineer Vince, born in Solihull, said of the news: “You’re on a massive high and then it was like being winded.
“It’s been really hard because they were all stable and then we lost Henry. It was so sudden and such a shock.
“We have absolutely no blame for the hospital in our hearts. They tried everything to bring him back.
“He was okay and suddenly he wasn’t. I truly feel for the staff.
“People have been congratulating us but we’ve been hurting inside. ”
In a statement the couple said: “We are devastated that our youngest son, Henry James, three days old, has very sadly passed on February 15th.
“It was a very sudden event that was too much for little Henry to take.
“We have not changed any views. We will continue to be positive after this time of sadness.
“We will of course continue to keep our 11 other super children supported and help the older children to process the news of Henry James.
“We will remember little Henry in our hearts with respect that he made it to our World and got his name in lights. In just two days he was a star in the world.
“We thank the hospital for all they have done so far and for continuing to look after our four remaining babies. We still have absolute faith and trust in the whole medical Team.
“It was an absolute honour and privilege being chosen for little Henry’s parents. We enjoyed every second of time we were able to spend with him.
“Please respect our right to mourn quietly and respectfully. His funeral has not yet been arranged. We ask only for your prayers.
“We now have 11 fantastic children and one amazing angel Henry James RIP.”
They signed the statement: ‘Privileged parents of Henry James Clarke’.
All the couple’s children are mostly named after Kings and Queens and Princesses around the world - with the exception of Elliot who was named after Billy Elliot.
They have twins Alexander, now four, and Charlotte, four, Antoinette, seven. Ziggie, seven, who are twins, Grace, ten months, Elliot, ten and Philip, 12.
