After a few days of battling for her life for being set ablaze by her ex-boyfriend, Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei has sadly passed on.
In an unfortunate turnout of situation, Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei has sadly passed on days after being set on fire by ex-boyfriend.
Cheptegei was rushed to a Kenyan hospital and was in critical condition with more than 75% burns on her body after being set ablaze by her ex-lover following an argument. The incident, which occurred last Sunday in Trans Nzoia County, has been described by authorities as stemming from a domestic dispute involving her partner.
It was said that the alleged attacker also sustained serious burns, as reported by the local police chief Jeremiah ole Kosiom in his statement to journalists and the two are being treated at Moi Referral Hospital in Eldoret, the main town in the region.
"The couple were heard quarreling outside their house. During the altercation, the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid on the woman before burning her," Mr Kosiom was quoted as saying.
Following the attack, she was initially treated at Kitale County Referral Hospital before being transferred to Eldoret for intensive care. While doctors were battling to save her life due to the severity of the injuries, the marathon runner was set to be airlifted to Nairobi for specialized treatment, but unfortunately died before this could be done.
Athletics Kenya President Jack Tuwei, also a Vice President of World Athletics, expressed his dismay at the attack, emphasizing that such acts of violence should never be tolerated, especially within the sports community.
"The incident that happened to our athlete from Uganda is really unfortunate and sad because you can't harm somebody due to disagreements about property, especially from a partner. As a federation, we condemn this in the strongest terms possible because that is not how we are supposed to live," said Tuwei.
Cheptegei was a Ugandan long-distance and marathon runner who represented her country at the Paris Olympics, where she finished 44th in the women's marathon event.
Her case is now the most recent in the number of tragic events from the past, including the deaths of other athletes in the region under violent circumstances, which is now a cause for concern in that Kenyan region.
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