Fabrice Muamba – the footballer who 'died' of a heart attack in front of millions of football fans last year – is to become a dad again.
The 24-year-old ex-Bolton midfielder and his wife Shauna are said to be 'elated' to be expecting a second child, due in June.
Fabrice, who won the affection of the nation with his miracle fight-back to health, believes his new baby is a special blessing after the cardiac arrest that forced him to retire from football.
Muamba and Shauna learned they were expecting their second child just before Christmas.
A friend told The Sun: "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.
"Both were looking forward to 2013 but this makes it more special."
The couple have broken the news to their four-year-old Josh. Muamba retired in August, five months after he collapsed while playing against Tottenham in a live TV match.
He was effectively dead for 78 minutes until medics got his heart started again. He was out of hospital after less than a month but quit football on medical advice.