UK’s Biggest Family Loses its 17th Baby; Radfords Say they are ‘Devastated’

The largest family in the United Kingdom all set to welcome the 17^th baby received some sad news. Sue and Noel Radford announced the loss of their unborn baby on a social networking website.

"It's with such sadness that we have to say our beautiful baby's heartbeat stopped 2 days ago we are utterly devastated beyond words," the couple wrote on their Facebook page. Just a day before Sue and Noel shared the news that they would be welcoming their 17^th baby and were "absolutely thrilled."

"We are so excited to announce Radford baby 17 will be joining this family in April," Sue posted on the family Facebook page and uploaded her 12-week sonogram photo. The family from Morecambe, Lancashire, gained recognition for being the largest family in the U.K. after being featured on a Channel 4 documentary '15 Kids and Counting.'

Sue and Noel have 16 biological children and welcomed their youngest child 11 months ago and Sue's labor lasted just 16 minutes.

The couple welcomed their first child when Sue was 14 and Noel just 19. Four years later, their second child, a daughter was born and the couple decided to get married. Sue said that every day chores are "like a military operation" but maintained that she adjusted herself to parenting over the last 22 years.

Condolences poured in for the couple after they posted the news. Sue responded to them saying that she "wanted a baby" and needed time to come out from the loss. "Thank you all for the supportive and lovely comments we have received and messages you have sent my heart is breaking so much for our much loved and wanted baby I now need to take some time out to grieve for our loss I will be back when im ready much love to you all," she wrote.

The family of 18 lives in a nine-bedroom house that was previously a children's home. They use a minibus to get around during family outings. Sue and Noel do not depend on benefits and rather are satisfied with their bakery business.

They spend around $477 each week on food that includes 18 pints of milk and three loaves of bread every day.