Media outlets have also released the first picture of the brutal attacker, Dickson Ndiema, who also suffered burns during the attack and is recovering from the incident. The 33-year-old Ugandan athlete was set on fire in the small town of Endebess, Kenya, during a disagreement over the land bought by her parents. Officials revealed that the accused ex-boyfriend had entered her property on Sunday, September 1, while Rebecca was at church with her two children, aged 12 and 13. He was allegedly armed with a can of petrol.

Rebecca Cheptegei’s daughter shared gut-wrenching details about watching her mother being set on fire by her ex-boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema

Share icon Image credits: Sam Mellish/Getty Images Share icon Image credits: Jiang Qiming/Getty Images When the Olympic runner returned, the pair were locked in an argument before the enraged boyfriend doused her in petrol and watched her burn. One of the Paris Olympic participant’s children witnessed the horrific assault and tried to run to her mother’s rescue, but Dickson “kicked” her away. “He kicked me while I tried to run to the rescue of my mother,” she was quoted telling The Standard.

Media outlets have released the first image of the alleged attacker, who also suffered burns during the horrific incident

Share icon Image credits: Dickson Ndiema “I immediately cried out for help, attracting a neighbour who tried to extinguish the flames with water, but it was not possible,” the bereaved daughter said. Neighbors rushed to the scene and extinguished the flames, which left both the attacker and the victim severely injured. The long-distance runner was rushed to the hospital with more than 80% of her body covered in burns, while her violent ex-partner had burns over 30% of his body. On the morning of September 5, Dr. Owen Menach from the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret confirmed that the Olympic runner had succumbed to her injuries.

“He kicked me while I tried to run to the rescue of my mother,” the bereaved daughter said. “I immediately cried out for help”

Share icon Image credits: Dickson Ndiema “It is sad that we lost the patient early this morning after all organs failed at about 5 a.m. while we were doing our best to save her life,” the doctor said. Mzee Cheptegei, the victim’s father, said Rebecca and Dickson had been just friends for a while. “They were just friends and I wonder why he wanted to take away things belonging to my daughter,” the father told The Star. The athlete competed in the 10,000 m race at the Paris Olympics this year and finished in 44th place in the marathon. In 2022, she won a gold medal at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Netizens were shocked to see the news that the Olympic athlete tragically lost her life

Share icon Share icon Share icon Share icon Share icon Share icon Share icon Share icon Share icon Share icon Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing! Follow Bored Panda on Google News! Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda!

Ex Boyfriend Who Set Olympic Runner On Fire Pictured As Her Daughter Shares Chilling Details - 64Ex Boyfriend Who Set Olympic Runner On Fire Pictured As Her Daughter Shares Chilling Details - 52Ex Boyfriend Who Set Olympic Runner On Fire Pictured As Her Daughter Shares Chilling Details - 29Ex Boyfriend Who Set Olympic Runner On Fire Pictured As Her Daughter Shares Chilling Details - 30Ex Boyfriend Who Set Olympic Runner On Fire Pictured As Her Daughter Shares Chilling Details - 62Ex Boyfriend Who Set Olympic Runner On Fire Pictured As Her Daughter Shares Chilling Details - 79Ex Boyfriend Who Set Olympic Runner On Fire Pictured As Her Daughter Shares Chilling Details - 74Ex Boyfriend Who Set Olympic Runner On Fire Pictured As Her Daughter Shares Chilling Details - 56Ex Boyfriend Who Set Olympic Runner On Fire Pictured As Her Daughter Shares Chilling Details - 77Ex Boyfriend Who Set Olympic Runner On Fire Pictured As Her Daughter Shares Chilling Details - 13Ex Boyfriend Who Set Olympic Runner On Fire Pictured As Her Daughter Shares Chilling Details - 73Ex Boyfriend Who Set Olympic Runner On Fire Pictured As Her Daughter Shares Chilling Details - 15Ex Boyfriend Who Set Olympic Runner On Fire Pictured As Her Daughter Shares Chilling Details - 28Ex Boyfriend Who Set Olympic Runner On Fire Pictured As Her Daughter Shares Chilling Details - 42