'We heard gasps of astonishment': Baby born at 9.11am on 9/11, weighing 9lbs 11oz

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Hospital staff in the US say a baby was born on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks at 9:11pm, weighing 9lb 11oz.

The mother described her baby Christina, who arrived on September 11, as a “little miracle”.

Operating theatre staff and nurses at Methodist Le Bonheur Hospital in Germantown, Tennessee, were said to be surprised by the rare matching birthdate, weight and time of birth.

It came as commemorations were held across the US to mark 18 years since the 9/11 attacks.

“Christina is a little miracle during such a sad time. She is a new life amongst the devastation and destruction,” mother-of-four Cametrione Malone-Brown said.

Father Justin Brown added: “We heard the doctor announce the time of birth 9/11 and then when they weighed Christina, we heard gasps of astonishment when everyone realised Christina weighed 9/11, was born at 9:11 and on 9/11.

“It was really exciting, especially to find some joy during a day of such tragedy.”

Rachel Laughlin, who has worked in women’s services at the hospital for more than 35 years, called the birth on Wednesday a “historic event”.

She said: “I’ve never seen a baby’s birthdate, time of birth, and weight all be matching numbers. This is extremely special, even more so with the 18th anniversary of 9/11.

“9/11 was such a time of tragedy, Christina is a little bundle of hope and happiness.”

When Christina is older, her parents say they will share with her the significance of her birth.

On a Facebook post shared by the hospital, Christina's mother reportedly said: "We had emotions and we felt it.

"Then 18 years later on that day 9/11, you find triumph; you find a piece of joy from a day that was so drastic and still hurts."

On Wednesday, family members of those killed in the attacks gathered in New York at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

The names of the victims were read and the crowds observed two moments of silence – for when each of the planes struck the World Trade Center.