The baby with a rare condition known as ‘mermaid syndrome,’ was born to a 22-year-old mother, from Sahranpur, in Uttar Pradesh, northern India, had the baby, on Friday morning. The newborn which was born with his two legs had fused together to resemble a mythical creature, only lived for about ten minutes. Dr Vandana Arya, 35, a gynecologist at the hospital who delivered the baby, said: ‘I have never seen a case like this before.
‘We have seen congenital disorders amongst children born with deformities, but this was an extremely rare case. The baby was born in a fish-like body, and had its hands spread like fins, which made this case even more unique. The upper body of the baby was absolutely functional but the lower body was not developed.’
A large group of people gathered at Sahi Ram Hospital for a glimpse of the remarkable newborn. Dr Arya said the condition meant it was impossible to determine the gender of the baby.
Sirenomelia, also known as ‘Mermaid syndrome’ is a life-threatening illness, marked by the rotation and fusion of a sufferer’s legs. The rare congenital deformity causes what looks like a single limb, resembling a fish tail, in the womb.
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