Athlete Rebecca Cheptegei dies at Moi Hospital after petrol attack by boyfriend
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Ugandan Athlete Rebecca Cheptegei dies at Moi Hospital following a petrol attack by her boyfriend
Ugandan Athlete Rebecca Cheptegei dies at Moi Hospital following a petrol attack by her boyfriend.
The 33-year-old marathon runner passed on at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret city, Uasin Gishu County.
Cheptegei succumbed to her injuries after her alleged boyfriend doused her body with petrol and set her on fire.
Confirming the incident, MTRH acting Director Dr Owen Menach said that all her organs failed on Wednesday night.
Cheptegei reportedly suffered 80 percent burns on Sunday after she was doused in petrol by her estranged boyfriend.
Addressing the press on Monday, September 2, Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah Ole Kosiom mentioned that Cheptegei’s boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema set her ablaze during a disagreement Sunday.
Reports indicate that the couple were heard fighting over the land where Cheptegei had built the house before the fire started.
The two sustained serious burn wounds and were rushed to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret city.
The area chief while detailing the occurrence revealed he heard the two fighting over the ownership of a piece of land where their house was built, a situation locals believed preceded the tragic incident.
While addressing the matter, Cheptegei’s parents claimed the athlete bought the piece of land as she wished to be near the athletes’ training centre.
Earlier this week, Uganda’s Athletics Federation released a statement condemning the incident.
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In its statement, the federation confirmed the athlete sustained serious injuries.
“We regret to announce that our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei who competed at the Olympics has suffered severe injuries and is hospitalized at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret,” the federation announced.
“This follows an incident involving her Kenyan boyfriend pouring petrol and setting fire to her.
At the scene of the tragedy, police officers managed to recover a five-litre jerrican containing petrol and a mobile phone believed to belong to the deceased’s boyfriend.
The tragic occurrence followed weeks after Cheptegei participated in the 2024 Paris Olympics where she emerged 48th position in a competitive race.
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