Fabrice Muamba and wife Shauna have announced they are expecting their second child – less than a year after the former footballer almost died on the pitch.

The couple, who married in October, already have a four-year-old son, Joshua, and are due to become parents again in June.

Shauna Muamba wrote 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.”

Muamba was playing for Bolton in an FA Cup quarter-final against Tottenham in March when he suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed.

The midfielder’s heart stopped beating for 78 minutes but be-cause of the prompt treatment he received he defied the odds to survive and make an incredible recovery.

Muamba had hoped to resume his football career but was advised against it by doctors and retired from the sport in August.

In October he launched the Hearts & Goals campaign, which is aiming to increase the number of defibrillators available in public places and provide CPR training to try to reduce the 100,000 people who die of sudden cardiac arrest every year in the UK.

Muamba has also published a best-selling autobiography, I’m Still Standing, and is part of ITV’s coverage of the African Nations Cup.