Woman died after giving birth to twins

It is an extremely rare complication and Durham Coroner Andrew Tweddle said there were only six other recorded cases worldwide.

Avril Billington, 37, of Derby Drive, Consett, collapsed in the University Hospital of North Durham as she was about to be induced.

The twins, Jack and Andrew, were born by Caesarean section but Mrs Billington died afterwards, on January 7, last year.

Pathologist Dr Paul Barrett said the cause of death was an amniotic fluid emboli.

He was initially baffled because the condition is so rare but he persevered with a painstaking set of tests.

With the help of other pathologists he was able to determine why Mrs Billington died.

The fluid in her system created an irregular heartbeat, which led to her death.

Coroner Mr Tweddle recorded a verdict of natural causes.

He said: "There was nothing untoward. It was an exceptionally rare, unusual and tragic set of circumstances."

She had only been married to her husband Edwin, 50, for seven months following their two-year courtship.

The couple got together after they were introduced by a friend and married in Stanley in the summer of 2002.

Now he is raising the twins and three children she had with her late husband, with the help of the extended family.

Mr Billington said: "Avril was lovely. You could not have asked to meet a nicer person.

"There was no sign that anything was wrong whatsoever. They had been checking on her every week.

"There was nothing wrong with her blood pressure so it came as a complete shock. It has been very, very traumatic."

Mr Billington has given up working on market stalls to look after the older children, aged 17, 14 and 11, as well as the twins, now 17-months-old.

He added: "It has been a very sad time for everyone, especially the children because they lost their dad not long before.

"It has been hard but we have got to keep going. Looking after the twins keeps our minds on things."