Football fans may not be familiar with the name Hiannick Kamba.
Those who are might have heard of the former Schalke player in a rather sad context, when he was reported dead following an accident in January 2016.
However, as reported by Bild, the defender has now been found alive and well.
Kamba once played alongside goalkeeper Manuel Neuer with the Bundesliga outfit but four years ago, he was playing for German eighth-tier side VfB Huls.
The club were shocked by his 'death' and witnessed an outpouring of tributes from across the nation.
Now 33, he has been found alive in Gelsenkirchen, where he has been working back in his old job as a chemical technician for an energy company.
Prosecutors are said to be investigating his ex-wife, who it's claimed collected a six-figure life insurance payment after presenting documents that proved his death.
It's alleged that those documents were forged. Prosecutors are quoted by the German publication:
“The accused is accused of fraud, but she denies the fact. The proceedings are still ongoing.
“[Kamba] stated that his companions had left him during the night while on a trip to the interior of the Congo in January 2016 and they took his papers, money and telephone.”
Kamba applied to return to Germany two years ago and will now be called as a witness.
He had originally settled in the country after fleeing conflict in the Congo 19 years previously.
His family were deported in 2005, but he was granted status to remain due to his youth contract at Schalke.
Kamba is now set to be a witness in the new case after filing an application to return to Germany two years ago.
It's fantastic news that he's been found safe, albeit in the midst of a rather bizarre, unsavoury tale.