Man accused of setting Ugandan Olympic athlete on fire dies of burns

According to reports from a Kenyan hospital, a man suspected of throwing gasoline on a Ugandan Olympic athlete, which led to her death days later, has died from burns sustained in the attack. The man, identified as Dickson Ndimba, was being treated at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in the western city of Eldoret, suffering from burns to 30% of his body.

Ndimba reportedly sustained his injuries after setting Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei on fire; Cheptegei died last Thursday from burns covering 80% of her body. Hospital spokesperson Owen Menach confirmed to the Associated Press today that the patient had died, adding that the hospital would issue a statement later.

A report submitted by a local chief indicates that Ndimba and Cheptegei had been in a dispute over a piece of land the athlete had purchased in Kenya. Cheptegei had participated in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics less than a month before the attack, finishing 44th. Her parents stated that their daughter had bought the land in Trans Nzoia County to be closer to Kenya’s numerous athletics training centers.

Cheptegei’s father, Joseph Cheptegei, told reporters last week that Ndimba was his daughter’s former boyfriend, who had been stalking and threatening her, and that the family had reported this to the police. He expressed his hope for justice and lamented that the suspect had not been guarded while hospitalized, fearing he might escape. Cheptegei is expected to be buried at her home in Uganda on Saturday.

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