The former boyfriend of Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, who is accused of setting her on fire, has also died from burns sustained in the attack, according to BBC.
The police had planned to charge Dickson Ndiema with murder before his death. Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kenya said Ndiema died on Monday night at the intensive care unit. He was admitted to the Kenyan hospital with burns on more than 40% of his body.
“He developed respiratory failure as a result of the severe airway burns and sepsis that led to his eventual death on Monday evening at 18:30 hours [15:30 GMT] despite life-saving measures,” a press release from the hospital said.
RELATED STORIES
Cheptegei, 33, succumbed to her injuries last Thursday in the same Kenyan hospital after Ndiema doused her in petrol and set her on fire. She is said to have sustained an 80% burn injury.
Cheptegei’s ex-boyfriend attacked her on Sunday during an altercation. Officials said the two had been arguing over a small piece of land in north-west Kenya, where Cheptegei lived. Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom said the victim’s ex-boyfriend set her on fire after dousing her with petrol that he had purchased.
“Most of her systems actually failed following the burns,” Dr Kimani Mbugua, a consultant at the hospital she was admitted, told journalists, per The Guardian. “The damage had already occurred by the time she was coming in. So we supported the organs as best as we could. But unfortunately, it was beyond what we could do.”
The deceased athlete’s family had called on authorities to prosecute Ndiema. But since he has also died, officials have dropped the criminal case, adding that an inquest into the two deaths will be opened.
Cheptegei’s death came after she participated in the recently ended Paris Olympics. She competed in the women’s marathon and finished 44th. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo announced on Friday that the city is planning to honor Cheptegei with a sports venue in her name.
