Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, who competed in the marathon at the Paris Olympics, has died in a Kenyan hospital where she was admitted after being attacked by her boyfriend, who allegedly doused her with petrol and set her on fire, the hospital said Thursday.
“Unfortunately, we lost her after all her organs failed last night,” said Dr Owen Menach, acting director of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, western Kenya, quoted by local media.
The Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) also confirmed the death of the 33-year-old athlete.
“We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei, early this morning, who was tragically a victim of domestic violence. As a federation, we condemn such acts and call for justice. May her soul rest in peace,” the UAF said on its social media account X.
The incident occurred last Sunday in the Kenyan county of Trans Nzoia (west), from where the athlete was rushed to the aforementioned hospital with burns on 80% of her body.
The alleged attacker, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, also suffered severe burns over 30% of his body and is currently in the same hospital in Eldoret.
On Sunday, Marangach broke into Cheptegei’s house with a five-litre jerrycan full of petrol, according to police.
The athlete had gone to church with her children and, when she returned, the man threw fuel at her and set her on fire.
The runner’s parents, Joseph Cheptegei and Agnes Ndiema, said their daughter, who lives in Uganda, had bought land in the Kenyan county and built a house where she stayed during her training sessions.
Cheptegei died after the Kenyan government announced plans on Wednesday to transfer the athlete to Nairobi for specialist medical treatment given her critical condition.
“Efforts are being made to ensure that the athlete admitted to hospital in Eldoret is flown to Nairobi for specialist treatment following the unfortunate incident,” Kenya’s Secretary of State for Sport, Peter Tum, said.
Cheptegei, who has been competing since 2010, competed in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics, finishing 44th.
