Rebecca Cheptegei’s father speaks out on his daughter’s dying
- Cheptegei was rushed to hospital in Kenya but pronounced dead on Thursday
- The 33-year-old had finished 44th in the maraton at the Paris Olympic Games
- Her father has revealed that the family will struggle to cope without her around
The father of Olympic marathon star Rebecca Cheptegei has spoken out following her death.
Cheptegei was allegedly doused in petrol and set on fire by her ex-boyfriend during a row at her home over the weekend, and has now succumbed to her injuries.
The 33-year-old, who finished 44th in the marathon at the Paris Olympics last month, suffered burns to 80 per cent of her body in Sunday’s brutal attack, according to medical officials.
She was rushed to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya, but was pronounced dead in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Now, her father, Mzee Joseph Cheptegei, has spoken out following her passing, and paid tribute to his now late daughter, revealing his family had been depending on her success.
The father of Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei (pictured) has spoken out on his daughter’s death
Cheptegei passed away after allegedly being doused in petrol and set on fire by her ex-boyfriend
Her father, Mzee Joseph Cheptegei, has revealed that his family will struggle to cope following hois daughter’s passing
‘I have lost a daughter who has been helping in many ways,’ he said, via The Star. ‘We have children in secondary schools and I don’t know how we are going to cope with this challenge to ensure they complete their studies.’
He also called for the government to pick up the pace in their investigations and ensure the culprit was punished.
‘From the day we lost her, the government has been slow in probing the matter,’ he added. ‘We have raised the matter with the police but there has still been no action on their part.’
Dr Owen Menach, who oversaw Cheptegei’s treatment in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital, issued a statement shortly after her passing.
‘It is sad that we lost the patient early this morning after all organs failed at about 5am while we were doing our best to save her life,’ Menach said.
Dr Tony Sabila, a family member, confirmed he was by Cheptegei’s bedside at the time of her death.
‘It is true that we lost our sister this morning although the doctors tried to save her life and I was there personally,’ he said.
Cheptegei’s death was confirmed four days after she was allegedly set on fire by her former partner, who police named as Dickson Ndiema.
Mzee Joseph Cheptegei also urged the government to pick up the pace with their investigations into the death
Kenyan police confirmed the runner was attacked at her house in western Trans Nzoia County
Kenyan police confirmed the runner was attacked at her house in western Trans Nzoia County, close to the Ugandan border, where she had recently relocated to be closer to superior Kenyan training facilities.
Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom said her former partner Dickson Ndiema had bought a can of petrol, poured it on her and set her ablaze during a disagreement on Sunday.
Police discovered a five-litre jerry can, a bag, and a burned phone at the scene of the incident, according to Kenyan newspaper The Nation.
A press release from the UOC bearing Rukare’s signature later urged law enforcement agencies ‘to take swift and decisive action to bring the perpetrator to justice’.
Mzee Joseph Cheptegei, speaking earlier this week from hospital alongside his other daughter Evalyne Chelagat, claimed that the two were fighting over her land at Endebes in Trans Nzoia shortly before the alleged attack occurred.
‘They were just friends and I wonder why he wanted to take away things belonging to my daughter,’ Cheptegei Snr told The Star, also revealing that his daughter’s two children are fathered by a different man living in Uganda.
He went on to claim that Cheptegei and Ndiema, who he alleges had been separated for a long time, were involved in a case being investigated by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Kenya.
The president of the Uganda Olympic Committee branded the events ‘a cowardly and senseless act’
The president of the Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) Donald Rukare said in a post on X on Thursday: ‘We have learnt of the sad passing on of our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei… following a vicious attack by her boyfriend.
‘This was a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete. Her legacy will continue to endure,’ he added.
According to Menach, the alleged ex-boyfriend attacker has also been admitted to the same hospital with 30 per cent burns.
