"Chased her away and Rebecca Cheptegei burnt" - Ugandan Olympian's father opens up about failed efforts to save his daughter after she was set on fire

Rebecca Cheptegei's father Joseph Cheptegei claimed the accused Dickson Ndiema chased the sprinter's sister away when she tried to save Rebecca. An Olympic athlete from Uganda, Rebecca was doused in petrol and set on fire by his former boyfriend. She was rushed to the hospital with 75 percent burns but died despite best efforts.

Rebecca Cheptegei, who finished 44th in the marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics, was in a heated argument with her ex-boyfriend Dickson Ndiema over a plot she bought at Endebes in Trans Nzoia. Immediately after, the latter drenched the Olympian in petrol and set her ablaze.

Rebecca's sister jumped to the rescue but was kicked away by the accused. Days after his daughter passed away in the hospital, Joseph Cheptegei opened up about the horrors of the incident and how the Olympian's sister was chased away with a machete when she tried to save the victim.

"Rebecca was outside the house when the suspect appeared and immediately poured petrol on her before lighting the fire. My daughter called for help by asking her sister who was in the home to bring a blanket to put off the fire but the suspect who was armed with a machete chased her away and Rebecca burnt," Mr. Cheptegei noted (via Daily Mail).

He further confirmed that Ndiema was just a friend to Cheptegei and the reason behind his arrival to claim belongings was beyond comprehension.

Cheptegei's daughter, who witnessed the horrifying incident, shared about calling a neighbor for help to extinguish the flame.

''I immediately cried out for help, attracting a neighbour who tried to extinguish the flames with water, but it was not possible," she (name concealed) said.

Rebecca Cheptegei's father on his daughter's passing - "We have lost our breadwinner"

The devastated father demanded justice for his daughter and mourned the loss of the sole breadwinner of his family. He was also not certain who would meet the educational needs of Rebecca Cheptegei's children (nine and 11).

"We have lost our breadwinner," he said. (via BBC)

Uganda Athletics Federation extended condolences and demanded justice for a heinous act of domestic violence.

"Rebecca Cheptegei early this morning who tragically fell victim to domestic violence. As a federation, we condemn such acts and call for justice. May her soul rest In Peace," the caption read.

A fellow Olympic runner, Eilish McColgan from Great Britain, also mourned Rebecca Cheptegei's death, pointing out the surge of deaths because of domestic violence.

"This is heartbreaking. Even more heartbreaking that it's not the first time the athletics community has lost such an incredible female athlete to domestic violence. It needs to stop! RIP Rebecca."

BBC noted that the National Survey results of 2022 show that 34 percent of women have been victims of physical violence in Kenya. In 2021, Kenyan sprinter Agnes Tirop also fell victim to domestic violence and was stabbed to death by her husband, Ibrahim Rotich.