Tragedy Strikes: Ugandan Marathon Runner Rebecca Cheptegei Dies After Being Set on Fire
Rebecca Cheptegei, a 33-year-old Ugandan marathon runner, has tragically passed away after being admitted to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya. The athlete suffered severe burns from open flames over her entire body and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with 80% burns.
According to Dr. Owen Menach, the Acting CEO of MTRH, Cheptegei’s organs failed at 5 am, leading to her untimely death. "It is sad that we lost the patient early this morning after all her organs failed at about 5 am while we were doing our best to save her life," Dr. Menach said.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the sports community, with Athletics Kenya President Jack Tuwei condemning the attack. "The incident that happened to our athlete from Uganda is really unfortunate and it’s sad because you can’t harm someone because of a disagreement over property, especially that of a partner. As a federation, we want to condemn this in the strongest possible terms because this is not the way we should live," Tuwei said.
Cheptegei’s family member, Dr. Tony Sabila, also confirmed her passing, stating, "It is true that we lost our sister this morning although the doctors tried to save her life and I was there personally."
The Kenyan government had announced plans to airlift Cheptegei to Nairobi for specialized treatment, but unfortunately, it was too late. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of athletes and the importance of respecting human life.
Cheptegei’s death is a tragic reminder of the devastating consequences of violence and the importance of promoting harmony and respect in all aspects of life.