Publications
Partners
It's Leap Day!
If today's your birthday, congrats, stats say you are 1 in 1,461!
When we first published this and other amazing Leap Day facts, we were thrown for a loop when one of our readers shared that, not only is he part of the .068 per cent born on this day, but so were the rest of his four brothers.
Yep, Francois, Pieter, Hendrik, Marius and Heinrich are Leapster quintuplets, and according to Francois, they are the "only quintuplets, of which all are men, to born on 29 February ever in the world."
The brothers as toddlers. (Image: Supplied)
And he seems to be right.
- Happy birthday! Leap Day babies share their stories with us
- When your birthday disappears, when do you celebrate? This, and other amazing Leap Day facts
- Four boys, three girls, one pregnancy: The world's first surviving septuplets talk life as living miracles
Incredible odds
We searched the web, and the only other set of multiples we could find (on the internet at least) were American triplets Harris, Elizabeth and Andrew Rowe who were born on Leap Day in 2004.
According to Kelly Rowe, their mom, the odds of triplets being born on Leap Day stands at .000000249 per cent.
Wiki says "Quintuplets occur naturally in 1 in 55,000,000 births" and we'd rather you do the math on those odds.
'A solid case for entry into Guinness'
Francois who currently lives in Nelspruit says he is the eldest of the five born on 29 February 1980.
Fun fact: There have only ever been five sets of "quintuplets born in South Africa since 1960."
"We'll try to make a solid case for entry into Guinness," jokes Francois.
And speaking of, Francois shares that he's been on the receiving end of more than a few.
"If people make jokes about my age I normally tell them: At least I have an excuse for my behaviour, what is yours?"
The ever-classic "I did not congratulate you because you did not have a birthdate this year," has also been swung by him.
Another dad-like joke he's heard: " I am younger than 2 of my kids."
The Nelspruit Leapster says that two of his five brothers are also fathers and, "the second born, Pieter, has twins."
Forty or ten? How they'll be celebrating
The brothers with their older sister. (Image: Supplied)
Technicalities and jokes aside, the Leapster quintuplets will be celebrating their 40th today with a joint celebration including 120 of their friends and family.
Giving us a sneak peek of what he'll be saying in a speech, Francois shares what it's like being one of five:
"Every person has a sense of belonging somewhere, be part of something and we are born into this. We have been formed together, born together, grew up together. A bond giving us what so many people are seeking. We are soulmates, friends, brothers, and so much more without needing to search for it."
We wish Francois, Pieter, Hendrik, Marius, Heinrich and all Leaplings a Happy Birthday!
Are you, or someone you know a Leap Year multiple?
Share with us!
Send your comments and photos to us at:
WhatsApp: Send messages and voicenotes to 066 010 0325
Email: Share your story with us via email at chatback @ parent24.com
Twitter: Twitter.com/Parent24
Facebook: Facebook.com/Parent24/
Instagram: Instagram.com/parent24
Anonymous contributions are welcome.
