Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei is fighting for her life at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret after allegedly being burned by her Kenyan boyfriend.
In the incident on Monday, September 2, Cheptegei and her partner Dickson Ndiema were embroiled in a domestic dispute that resulted in a fire incident at their home in Kinyoro, Trans Nzoia County, that burned both of them.
Confirming the incident, the area chief, Rose Chebet, said Ndiema poured petrol on his wife and ignited it.
The fire quickly engulfed her and in a distressing turn of events, the fire also caught Ndiema when he lit the matchstick.
Their neighbours quickly responded to their distress call and rushed them to Kitale Level Four Hospital, where they were admitted with serious burn injuries. The two would later be referred to MTRH for specialised treatment.
Trans Nzoia police boss Jeremiah Ole Kosiomsaid the athlete sustained 75% burns, adding they have launched investigations into the incident.
Notably, Cheptegei participated in the 10,000 metre race at the concluded Paris Olympics but finished in position 48.
She won gold in the 2021 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships held in Thailand in 2022.
