Rebecca Cheptegei has suffered some injuries across most of her body.
The 33-year-old Ugandan Olympic marathon runner was set on fire by her boyfriend Dickson Ndiema during a dispute between the two, according to multiple news outlets, via People.
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Rebecca reportedly suffered burns on 75% of her body after her boyfriend doused her in gasoline and set her on fire at her home in Trans Nzoia County in Kenya on Sunday (September 1).
“The couple were heard quarreling outside their house,” Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom said, via BBC. “During the altercation, the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid on the woman before burning her.”
Her boyfriend also suffered burns and they are both being treated at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
According to the BBC, the hospital’s senior director of clinical services said a “high-profile patient” was “fully sedated because of the extent of the burns.”
“[Ndiema] is believed to have sneaked into the compound at around 2:00 p.m. on Sunday while the wife and the children were in Church,” the police commander told The Standard. “Upon returning, Dickson, who had procured petrol, began pouring it on Rebecca before he set her ablaze.”
Neighbors put out the fire and transported to the hospital for treatment.