California twins born in different years just 15 minutes apart

Alfredo and Aylin have different birth years despite just a 15-minute age gap.
Alfredo and Aylin have different birth years despite just a 15-minute age gap. Photo credit: Twitter / @NMCInspires

A set of newborn twins in the United States may only be a few days old, but are already making global headlines after their birth marked a very rare occurrence.

On Friday, California parents Fatima Madrigal and Robert Trujillo welcomed a son named Alfredo on New Year's Eve at 11:45pm (local time). But just 15 minutes later, right as the clock struck midnight marking the beginning of 2022, his twin sister Aylin was born - meaning the pair were born not just on different days but in different years, too.

Madrigal says it's "crazy" to her that her twin children have different birthdays.

"I was surprised and happy that she arrived at midnight," People magazine reports her as saying.

The Natividad Medical Center, where the twins were born, says it's about a one in two million chance that twins will be born on a different day, month and year.

Dr Ana Abril Arias, a family doctor at the Natividad Medical Group, says the babies' births are "definitely one of the most memorable deliveries" of her career.

"It was an absolute pleasure to help these little ones arrive here safely in 2021 and 2022," she says. "What an amazing way to start the New Year!"

Alfredo and Aylin now join three older siblings - two girls and a boy.