I spent 14 days in a coma fighting for my life and now Hearts punters are in line for something special

Fourteen days in a coma fighting for his life.

After being struck down by Covid, Elton Kabangu faced his biggest battle ever – and stared death in the face. But incredibly the Belgian striker won. He didn’t just survive to tell the tale – he somehow managed to resurrect his playing career. And if Hearts were looking for someone with resilience and mental strength then they’ve found him.

Kabangu signed on loan last week from Union St-Gilloise and could make his Jambos debut today against Aberdeen at Pittodrie. The 26-year-old was flagged up by the club’s new Jamestown analytics data and is expected to take some of the burden off Hearts skipper Lawrence Shankland up front.

But it’s a miracle Kabangu is still kicking a ball. In July 2020 he contracted the Covid virus and was admitted to intensive care. For two weeks his family weren’t sure if he’d make it but Kabangu pulled through. His determination to get fit again and return to the pitch eventually earned him a move to Union from Dutch side Willem II.

Now he has landed in Edinburgh – and Kabangu admits the ordeal he faced four years ago means he’ll never take anything in life for granted. The new Hearts frontman said: “It was a tough period for me, of course. But coming back has helped with my mentality. I had my family and God – and it has made me stronger.

“It made me the person I am now. Sometimes in life you have battles and you have to try to win them. When death is so close, you realise you’re lucky you have a family and can play football.

“It makes you appreciate things more. It made me realise a lot of things. I never doubted because I’m a religious guy and I trust in God. It had to be like this.

“Every situation in my life that happened has made me stronger –