The triplets who cheated death ... three times

But when they were born they were so premature that they weighed only just over 2lb each.

And as they fought for life in intensive care, each one had to be brought back to life by doctors three times after stopping breathing.

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Their survival has been hailed as a miracle by their relieved parents, Andy and Anna Collier.

Mrs Collier said: "When they were born they were just so tiny. They could have each fitted into the palm of our hands.

"When they stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated each time, we thought we could lose them."

Mrs Collier gave birth at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital on January 6 last year, at 29 weeks.

Isabel weighed 2lb 9oz, Ben 2lb 7oz and Emily 2lb 1oz. They were placed on ventilators in intensive care because they could not breathe on their own.

Mrs Collier said: "I wondered how could anything so small possibly survive."

The triplets caught numerous infections but managed to hang on.

But at eight weeks, Isabel stopped breathing. Mrs Collier said: "It was terrifying. She went blue and limp and lifeless.

"The doctors managed to resuscitate her. She was so lucky, as she was just seconds from death."

Three weeks later the same thing happened to Ben. Mrs Collier said: "One minute he looked fine, the next he went completely still.

"He was turning blue before my eyes. I screamed for help and the doctors came rushing over. Luckily they were able to resuscitate him too."

Only two hours later, Emily stopped breathing too. She was the weakest triplet, but doctors managed to save her too.

Her mother said: "I was just standing out in the corridor crying. As the doctors pumped the life back into Emily too I just worried about how much more the babies could take.

"That afternoon, when we nearly lost them both, I called Black Tuesday."

Unbelievably, the babies each had to be brought back to life two further times each.

Mrs Collier said: "Each time they managed to hold on. The doctors couldn't believe what little fighters they were.

"If it had just been one baby who nearly died three times, that would have been bad enough. To nearly lose all three of them three times each was an emotional rollercoaster.

"But I knew these babies were fighters and were going to hang on."

After 101 days the triplets were allowed home. They have gone from strength to strength and are now up to average weight.

Mrs Collier said: "Isabel is the motherly one while Emily is the tomboy. Ben is the placid one - he has to be with two sisters."

To thank the hospital, the couple have set up a charity - website www.3littlemiracles.com - to raise £250,000 for life- saving equipment for the neonatal unit.