Ashley Cain becomes a father again! Star reveals he’s welcomed a baby boy named Atlas a month early – and shares a sweet tribute to his late daughter Azaylia

Ashley Cain has welcomed his third child – a son named Atlas Diamond Cain.

The former Ex On The Beach star first became a father to Azaylia with his ex-partner Safiyya Vorajee, tragically passed away from leukaemia in April 2021 at the age of eight months.

He went on to welcome son Aliyas with a new partner in January this year. He later revealed that he and the mystery woman were no longer together romantically but that they were happily co-parenting. 

Ashley announced the birth of his third child on Friday as he shared several snaps of the tot and said his heart was ‘bursting with love and excitement’.

The star is currently away filming a show for the BBC called Ashley Cain: Into The Danger Zone and so missed Atlas’ birth as he arrived a month early. 

He wrote: ‘When you rearrange your final two filming dates three times to make sure you’re back for your son’s birth, fully expecting him to be just like you – LATE. He surprises everyone by showing up a month early!

‘Even though I’m absolutely gutted I couldn’t be there, my heart is bursting with love and excitement. 

‘I can’t wait to leave the danger zones behind and come home to the best welcome ever – hugs, kisses, and sleepy snuggles on the sofa with my beautiful baby boy.

‘Atlas, you will always have the most beautiful, strong, and courageous guardian angel watching over you in your big sister, Azaylia. 

‘And you’ll share an unbreakable bond with the best big brother, Aliyas, who will forever have your back, look out for you, and stand by your side.

‘May your body grow strong, your mind grow wise, your heart remain loving, and your spirit stay pure and truly powerful!

‘See you soon, my boy – I love you.’   

Ashley was inundated with well wishes from friends and family including Love Island stars Amber Rose Gill who wrote: ‘Wow!’ and Jamie Jewitt who sent a heart emoji.

Others wrote: ‘Aw congratulations brother, well done to mum. Welcome to the world Atlas.’

‘Congratulations my bro, beautiful’… ‘Absolutely amazing, gorgeous news! What a gorgeous boy. So happy for you both.’  

It is not known if the mother of his unborn third child is the same woman who had his second. MailOnline has contacted Ashley’s representatives for comment. 

Ashley announced he was expecting another baby on Thursday November 21, revealing he was expecting a baby boy and sharing his joy that there was good news coming after ‘all the heartache.’ 

Alongside pictures of son Aliyas, and bizarrely a slew of snaps of his purple Lamborghini, he wrote: ‘“Another One” **DJ Khaled Voice**. 

‘My little girl will soon have another little brother to watch over, and my little boy will not only be a baby brother but a big brother too.’ 

Ashley continued: ‘With all the heartache I’ve been through, I’m truly grateful that I can really start counting my blessings again! 

‘Now, it’s time to head to two of the most dangerous places in the world to film the final two episodes of my brand new series. 

‘So for now, I’m sad to say goodbye, but I look forward to seeing you both soon, my little men. And to my guardian angel, I’ll never ever be without you because I can feel your presence in every step I take.

‘Life has a way of throwing challenges our way, but it also blesses us with moments that fill our hearts with immense joy. Here’s to the journey ahead and the beautiful souls who make it’.

Ashley has not disclosed the mother of his 10-month-old son Aliyas but previously opened up about their ‘beautiful’ co-parenting relationship.

He told MailOnline: ‘We’re keeping as friends, and we are co-parenting. We have a very good relationship, so that’s how it is staying.

‘It’s been beautiful, really to be able to get on, not amicably, but so well, even better, we both have Aliyas’s best interests in heart.

‘We both have love and respect for each other. And we both just want to be the best parents we can. And not only enjoy our son, but let us and enjoy the most of us and the most of life.

‘So we’re doing everything. It’s very comfortable. It’s very easy. And we make the best decisions based on our son, so great.’

After the birth, Ashley was trolled for naming his son after late daughter, Azaylia.

Taking to Instagram he revealed he’d paid tribute to his late daughter by using her middle name, Diamond, which later explained was a ‘family tradition.’

Ashley was met with a slew of comments from his followers who branded his son’s name, Aliyas Diamond Cain, disrespectful towards his ex partner.

Safiyya said she was heartbroken that Ashley fathered a child with someone else and claims he had asked her to try for a second baby with him after their split. 

She had been hoping for a reconciliation but admitted she hadn’t been explicit about that.

Last month, Ashley revealed the trauma over his daughter Azaylia’s death will ‘never leave’ him.

Former footballer Ashley and his ex Safiyya raised more than £1.5million to fund Azaylia’s specialist treatment before her death and later put any unspent money into The Azaylia Foundation which aims to support families and provide memorable experiences for children fighting cancer. 

Since her death, Ashley has devoted his days to taking on near-impossible challenges and endured blood, sweat and tears to keep his daughter’s ‘legacy alive’.

Speaking on Paul Carrick Brunson’s We Need To Talk podcast, the TV personality said: ‘I don’t believe my trauma is ever going to leave me and I don’t want it to leave me because the pain I feel is the love for my daughter.’

During the emotional interview, Ashley recalled first discovering the signs that his daughter was ill and being told of her cancer diagnosis.

He said: ‘One day my partner saw a raised lump on her stomach and it had a bruise on it. When we rang, they told us to come straight in. They took Azaylia’s blood. 

‘They told us it was AMR leukemia, it was very aggressive. She’s at a high risk of this illness taking her life and there’s a low risk of them being able to cure it. 

‘They told us that on the spot. We were moved to Birmingham Children’s hospital and that was my life going forward. 

‘I went from feeling like I’d everything I’d ever wanted to having my entire life turned upside down. I broke down. I couldn’t function, I struggled to stand, to speak.’

Ashley and Safiyya planned to travel to Singapore with Azaylia for specialist leukemia treatment however doctors told them she was too ill to make the journey. 

Ashley recalled: ‘The day the consultant came in and said, Azalyia’s tumours come back, she’s now got tumours on her stomach, her kidney, her spleen and her brain and she won’t be able to fly. There’s nothing we could do about it. 

‘The radiotherapy was too harsh, it would have killed her. At this point, they said there was nothing they could do anymore. 

‘I used to hope my daughter could beat cancer and then I got to the point where my hope becomes, when she passes away it’s peaceful and she can be in our arms. 

Ashley became emotional as he recalled the day Azaylia passed away, saying: ‘We kept getting transfusions to hold that together so she would pass peacefully. 

‘One morning we knew it was the time, we made sure she was in her arms and I was counting the seconds between her breaths until she didn’t breath anymore. I can’t forget that moment.’

If you are struggling with the loss of a child please contact Sands on 0808 164 3332 or helpline@sands.org.uk 

For help and support caring for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, please contact Together for Short Lives on 0808 8088 100 or visit www.togetherforshortlives.org.uk