A GRIEF-STRICKEN Swansea man who lost his son in a boating accident says his family has been dealt a second, devastating blow following the death of his baby twin grand-daughters.

Heartbroken Steven Wood, of Morriston, said they were all struggling to come to terms with the loss of Kelsie and Vikki.

The babies, who had been born prematurely, died on Friday, October 3.

Mr Wood said: "We are all devastated — I just can't believe it."

He said his 20-year-old daughter, Emma, and her partner David Bantin, aged 27, had been overjoyed to find out she was pregnant with twins.

He said the family had hoped it was a fresh start for them after the death of his son four years ago.

Seventeen-year-old Lee died after the speedboat they were in capsized in a freak wave.

"It was Emma's first pregnancy," he added.

"Everything seemed normal and she had been having regular check-ups, we had all been excited and had been making plans.

"At 21 weeks she had been taken into Singleton Hospital and my wife Nikki had a call at 1am that morning from David, Emma's partner.

"She went down to the hospital — I didn't think it was anything serious.

"Kelsie was born at 6.50am and Vikki at 7.05am, on October 3.

"If they had been born three weeks later they would have had a chance."

Mr Woods said the babies had looked beautiful.

"The girls were the spit of my Emma," he added. "People have been very supportive and cannot believe what the family has gone through."

Since losing his son, Mr Wood has worked tirelessly, along with Emma and other members of the family, to raise the profile of the RNLI.

The family has already raised thousands of pounds for the charity.

Lifeboat crews spent 16 days searching for Lee before his body was found on rocks at Burry Holms, following the incident at Llangennith in April 2004. Mr Wood said since that day Emma, who now lives in Mayhill, had been doing all she could to care for him and his wife.

He is now looking to fund-raise for Singleton Hospital's baby care unit, in memory of his twin granddaughters.

"Only last week I was also raising money for the Children's Hospital in Bristol," he added.

A family funeral service will be held in memory of the twin girls on Wednesday at their home in Morriston. The twins will then be buried at Morriston Cemetery, at 10.45am, which friends are invited to attend.

The family has asked for donations in lieu of flowers to be made to the baby care unit, at Singleton Hospital.