Former Schalke Star Hiannick Kamba Who Was Reported Dead in Car Crash Found Alive 4 Years Later

Former FC Schalke 04 soccer star, who was reported to have died in a car accident in 2016 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was found to be alive. 

A Congolese-born soccer player named Hiannick Kamba is said to have resurfaced after being pronounced dead almost four years ago.

Kamba rose to fame in 2005 when he was signed to German's FC Schalke 04. He was a starring defender who reportedly died in a car accident while visiting his native country.

According to Daily Mail, at the onset of his soccer career, he played for Schalke 04's youth alongside other stars such as Manuel Neuer.

At the time of his reported death, he was playing for VfB Huls. The club had offered an obituary in 2016, saying, "he represented the ideas and values of our club like few others. We will miss it as a fellow human being."

📅 04. Mai 1904: Der Mythos wird geboren 📅

💙 1⃣1⃣6⃣ 𝗝𝗔𝗛𝗥𝗘 𝗙𝗖 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗞𝗘 𝟬𝟰 💙#S04 | #NurImWir | #HappyBirthday pic.twitter.com/cO9fpRuXxP

— FC Schalke 04 (@s04) May 4, 2020

The German newspaper, Bild, was the first to report that Kamba had returned to Germany and is working at his previous job in Ruhr as a chemical technician at an energy supplier company.

Public prosecutor Anette Milk told the magazine that Kamba had allegedly noted his death as "fake news" in 2018 when he made a report at the German Embassy in Kinshasa, DR Congo.

Footballer returns four years after 'fatal' car crash #schalke #Germany #DRCongo @gulf_news https://t.co/39ZRfPgptc

— Gulf News Sport (@GulfNewsSport) May 7, 2020

Milk said that in 2016, Kamba had disappeared after being left stranded by a group of friends he has been traveling with, the prosecutor explained:

"Kamba claims he was abandoned by friends overnight in Congo in January 2016 and left without documents, money and a cell phone."

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It is reported, his ex-wife, whom he shares a 10-year-old with, made a six-figure payout from his life insurance money after she produced a Congolese death certificate.

It is not clear how she was able to obtain the document, and corruption is suspected. The unidentified woman has been accused of fraud.

Congolese 🇨🇩 player Hiannick Kamba has been discovered alive in Germany.

The former Schalke right back was reported dead in January 2016 after a car accident in DR Congo.

His ex-wife who claimed a 6-figure amount on his life insurance is being investigated for insurance fraud. pic.twitter.com/lJAzZkNhim

— Usher Komugisha (@UsherKomugisha) May 5, 2020

Kamba's ex-wife denies the charges against her and said she was not aware of his life insurance policy until it was brought to her attention after his alleged death.

The New York Post reports that Kamba is not facing any charges. He will be named as a witness in the case against his ex-wife.