Former Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba is going to be a father for a second time, less than 12 months after he survived a heart attack on the pitch.
The 24-year-old's wife, Shauna Magunda, confirmed the news on Twitter.
"Thanks for all the lovely well wishes @fmuamba and I are so happy. We've been so blessed and can't wait to meet our new baby," she tweeted.
The couple are already parents to four-year-old son Joshua.
Muamba was forced to quit football after collapsing on the pitch in March last year, during an FA Cup clash against Tottenham Hotspur. He was technically dead for two hours, during which time a defibrillator was used 15 times by medics in a bid to restart his heart.
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The former England youth international was brought back to life by their efforts and then went on to amaze experts by making a swift recovery, and even carried the Olympic flame in London ahead of the Olympic Games.
He is now working on an autobiography and has spent time raising awareness about cardiovascular health since his recovery.
"The baby is due in June. they would have been thrilled anyway but given what happened to Fabrice last year, they feel even more blessed and lucky," a friend close to the couple told the Sun.
"Both were looking forward to 2013 but this makes it more special."
The couple are thought to have found out about the pregnancy shortly before Christmas.
Muamba recently showed off his salsa skills with professional partner Aliona Vilani for the Christmas edition of the BBC1 show, Strictly Come Dancing. The show bosses were reportedly so impressed by his dancing that they wanted him to join them for a full series.
"I've got a whole new respect for the dancers. I'm still learning so we'll see what happens," Muamba said at the time of the show.
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