Just weeks after competing in Paris, Rebecca Cheptegei is receiving treatment after her ex-boyfriend allegedly set her on fire. The Olympic marathon runner has reportedly suffered burns to 75 percent of her body. Kenyan police have identified the attacker as Dickson Ndiema.
According to the Associated Press, the incident happened at Rebecca’s home in Trans Nzoia County in western Kenya. However, she is originally from Uganda. Her parents said she bought the land in TNC to be closer to its athletic training centers.
Note that Dickson is being reported as Rebecca’s boyfriend. But, her father, Mzee Joseph Cheptegei, told The Star, a Kenyan newspaper, that they’ve been “just friends” for a hot minute.
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Here’s What Reportedly Happened To Rebecca Cheptegei
Trans Nzoia County officials say Dickson purchased a jerrican of petrol and poured it on Rebecca on Sunday, September 1, before lighting her on fire. He also suffered burns during the process. The couple had reportedly been in an argument ahead of the arson attack.
This was allegedly confirmed by the police report and police commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom. The commander told journalists that neighbors heard the couple arguing outside of their house and witnessed Dickson pouring a liquid on Rebecca. Neighbors eventually put out Rebecca and Dickson Ndiema’s burning bodies.
It remains unclear what exactly prompted him to commit the attack. The incident appears to still be under investigation. However, the police commander told a local outlet that they believed Rebecca Cheptegei’s ex-boyfriend snuck into her compound at around 2 p.m. while she was at church with her two kids, per The Daily Mail.
As mentioned, Joseph Cheptegei has also spoken out from the hospital. According to The Star, Joseph believes Dickson was quarreling with his daughter over her land.
“They were just friends and I wonder why he wanted to take things belonging to my daughter,” Mzee Joseph said.
Additionally, the father revealed Dickson is not the biological father of his grandchildren. It’s unclear whether they witnessed the attack. Mzee Joseph also claimed that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations in Kenya was already investigating a separate involving Rebecca and Dickson, per TDM.
The Latest Update On Olympic Runner’s Health
The Uganda Athletics Federation revealed that Cheptegei is now getting treatment a few hours away at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret. Acting CEO Dr. Owen Menach reportedly told The Star that his staff is doing everything they can to stabilize and save the athlete’s life. In addition to external burns, she also suffered inhalation burns.
We regret to announce that our athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, who competed at the Olympics has suffered severe injuries and is hospitalized at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret. This follows an incident involving her Kenyan boyfriend pouring petrol and setting fire on her pic.twitter.com/rgnWvgTpkb
— UGANDA ATHLETICS FEDERATION🇺🇬🇺🇬 UAF (@UgaAthletics2) September 3, 2024
Meanwhile, 30 percent of Dickson’s body was also burned, per The Star. Rebecca is just a few weeks removed from coming in 44th place during the women’s marathon at the Paris Games last month.
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