Husband jokingly giving the wife three talaaqs

If a man says to his wife "I divorce you" three times as a joke and has no intention to divorce her and is unaware that simply uttering the words could lead to divorce. Is that counted as talaaq or is the nikkah valid. Also note that this occurred while the wife was in a state of purity, before menses, during which intercourse had taken place. Is this nikkah still valid? Is the talaaq valid? If yes is it counted as one or 3? This occurred between a couple that are very much involved and would be devastated by talaaq. And please advise what should be done after this.