A Ugandan athlete who appeared within the 2024 Paris Olympics has died after reportedly being set on hearth by her boyfriend in Kenya.
As beforehand reported by PEOPLE, distance runner Rebecca Cheptegei, 33, suffered 75 % burns on her physique after her boyfriend allegedly doused her in gasoline and set her on hearth at her dwelling in Trans Nzoia County in western Kenya on Sunday, Sept. 1, police mentioned, per the Associated Press, BBC News and ESPN.
On Thursday, Sept. 5, it was reported Cheptegei had died from her accidents, per native retailers the Daily Nation, The Standard and The Star.
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Per the Nation, Dr. Owen Menach, who’s the Director of Medical Providers and Surgical procedure on the Moi Educating and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret, confirmed the unhappy information, asserting the athlete died at round 5 a.m. native time from “full organ failure.”
Member of the family, Dr. Tony Sabila, additionally confirmed to Nation Sport that Cheptegei had died.
“It’s true that we misplaced our sister this morning though the docs tried to avoid wasting her life and I used to be there personally,” Sabila mentioned.
The Uganda Athletics Federation led tributes on X (previously often known as Twitter), posting, “We’re deeply saddened to announce the passing of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei early this morning who tragically fell sufferer to home violence.”
“As a federation, we condemn such acts and name for justice. Might her soul relaxation In Peace,” the publish concluded.
FERENC ISZA/AFP by way of Getty
The replace comes after Trans Nzoia County Police Commander, Jeremiah ole Kosiom, mentioned Monday that the assault occurred throughout a dispute between Cheptegei and her boyfriend Dickson Ndiema.
“The couple had been heard quarreling outdoors their home,” he instructed journalists, per the BBC. “In the course of the altercation, the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid on the girl earlier than burning her.”
Ndiemma additionally sustained critical burns within the hearth. The pair had been put out by neighbors and transported to MTRH for specialised remedy.
The couple had been described as having been heard arguing over the land the house was constructed on earlier than the incident, per a report filed by the native police obtained by AP.
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Kosiom instructed The Standard, “[Ndiema] is believed to have sneaked into the compound at round 2:00 p.m. on Sunday whereas the spouse and the kids had been in Church. Upon returning, Dickson, who had procured petrol, started pouring it on Rebecca earlier than he set her ablaze.”
Cheptegei completed in forty fourth place within the marathon on the 2024 Paris Olympics in August. She’d beforehand gained gold on the World Mountain and Path Working Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 2022.
In case you are experiencing home violence, name the Nationwide Home Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is accessible 24/7 in additional than 170 languages.
