KARACHI: Doctors in Pakistan say they have successfully operated to save the life of a baby born with six legs due to a rare genetic condition, hospital officials said Thursday.

“A team of five experienced doctors have successfully separated the extra legs and limbs from the baby today. He is very much safe and secure,” said Jamal Raza, the director of National Institute of the Child Health in Karachi.

Raza said it was a case of parasitic conjunction -- more than one baby joined together but only one of them fully formed.

The boy was born to the wife of an X-ray technician a couple of weeks ago in Sukkur city, around 450 kilometres (280 miles) north of Karachi, and was moved to Karachi for treatment early this week.

“The extra limbs and legs were the result of a genetic disease which would affect only one in a million or more babies,” the doctor said.

Imran Shaikh, the baby's father, was thrilled.

“It is great news for us. What the parents want is to see their kids healthy and strong. We pray his life remains normal and joyful,” he told reporters.