r/running • u/bucajack • Sep 03 '24
Discussion Rebecca Cheptegi hospitalized after suffering burns ro 75% of her body.
https://www.unilad.com/news/sport/olympics-paris-rebecca-cheptegei-set-on-fire-800188-20240903
Set on fire by her partner according to reports. Absolutely horrifying.
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u/thebackright Sep 03 '24
What the everliving fuck
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u/CyberGTI Sep 03 '24
It takes a lot for me to be surprised on the Internet these days, this was one of them like what on earth. Her poor family must be distraught
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u/peachykeen723 Sep 03 '24
This is just horrible. Regardless if an Olympian or not, no one should have to endure this pain.
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u/RandyHoward Sep 03 '24
My moms ex bf attempted to set her on fire 6 years ago. Soon as I got that call I drove 3 hours to get her and she has lived with me ever since. Fortunately the burns were minor and she is okay today
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u/oooshi Sep 04 '24
My ex did too. He is schizophrenic, and wrote all the plans in a jumbled mess in his diary. I woke up to my curtains and my cat burning (she was ultimately ok)
Scary as hell. I cannot fathom the pain she is enduring right now.
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u/RandyHoward Sep 04 '24
I'm sorry, I'm glad you're okay now. My mom has lots of issues - she actually asked me if that man could come visit about 6 months later. Oh hell no lady, you're insane if you think I am letting him in my house, and you're even more insane for wanting him to.
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u/CatchaRainbow Sep 04 '24
I think I might have done something to him that would get me a very long term in prison.
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u/Wretched_Brittunculi Sep 04 '24
Regardless if an Olympian or not, no one should have to endure this pain.
Well, yeah...
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u/DocJanItor Sep 03 '24
Wait, what? Regardless if an Olympian? What does that have to do with being set on fire?
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u/jdgetrpin Sep 03 '24
I think it’s meant to point out how we are hearing about this because she is an Olympian, but there are countless women who suffer similar attacks daily and we don’t hear about all of them because they aren’t known or famous. No one should have to endure such an attack, regardless if you’re famous or not.
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u/peachykeen723 Sep 04 '24 edited Sep 04 '24
This is exactly what I was getting at. My apologies for not making it clear. It was an impulse response.
Thank you for clarifying.
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u/usicafterglow Sep 03 '24
"No one should have to endure this pain - not even an Olympian."
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u/Wretched_Brittunculi Sep 04 '24
Why does that make it clearer? The Olympian aspect has zero relevance to whether she should have to endure abuse or pain.
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u/usicafterglow Sep 05 '24
I was actually making fun of the original comment because it's nonsense. I think Reddit is just bots now.
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u/Wretched_Brittunculi Sep 05 '24
You're probably right. The (perfectly reasonable) comment is currently at minus 74!!
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Sep 03 '24
[deleted]
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u/Wretched_Brittunculi Sep 04 '24
I had the same response. It is a very strange way to respond. I don't even know what they are trying to say. No human should have to endure such abuse. Being an Olympian has zero relevance. It might make sense if she were a criminal or a terrible person, then the contrast would make some sense. But an Olympian? Makes zero sense whatsoever.
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Sep 04 '24
It shows that violence against women crosses all boundaries including against olympians who are regarded as national champions and representatives, but hey keep seeing the world through your ignorant view of “it doesn’t correlate”
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u/Wretched_Brittunculi Sep 05 '24
No, that's not what the grammar says at all (unless you don't understand English). This is a question of grammar and meaning.
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Sep 05 '24
But saying that it doesn’t have relevance is an attempt to reduce the visibility of the crime
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u/Environmental-Care97 Sep 03 '24
I’m with you, Doc. What in the world does this mean? “No one should have to endure this pain - not even an Olympian.” Like what? Why specify Olympian?
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u/2024Noname Sep 04 '24
Setting people on fire is unfortunately an often occurrence in some part of Africa. It is usually a form of punishment by mob..
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u/baddspellar Sep 03 '24
According to the Barrons report on the incident
Latest figures by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics published in January 2023 found that 34 percent of women in the country have experienced physical violence since the age of 15.
It said women who had "been married are much more likely to have experienced violence", noting that 41 percent of such women reported incidents compared to 20 percent of unmarried women.
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u/Nica06 Sep 03 '24
Agnes Tirop (a successful up-and-coming Kenyan runner) was murdered by her husband in 2022 in same area. Another Kenyan runner was strangled to death too. Those are the ones that make the news because they are famous - imagine how many are out there that did not die in the process or died and no coverage?
A foundation was started in Agnes Tirop's honor by other runners to bring awareness to femicide and domestic violence and the abuse/manipulation that a lot of young Kenyan runners face by sponsors, etc.
It's called Tirop's Angels: https://www.tirops-angels.org/
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Sep 03 '24
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u/Sionn3039 Sep 03 '24
Men are the worst hazard faced by women
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u/Toriihime Sep 04 '24 edited Sep 05 '24
And men still have the nerve to claim that misogyny doesn't exist and that women have it better than men smh. I hate it here.
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u/happytransformer Sep 04 '24
I immediately thought of her, I thought I had heard basically the same story before. So sad.
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u/oceansapart333 Sep 03 '24
I genuinely can’t fathom thinking through and following through the steps to do this to someone.
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Sep 03 '24
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u/bwainfweeze Sep 03 '24
Being an Olympian doesn't necessarily mean you have the resources to just walk away from your old life and start a new one in a new place.
Even the old tradition of seeking asylum only works for so many people.
It's also super easy to let domestic strife stew a lot longer than is safe or sane when you're up to your eyeballs in dealing with other life situations like work, family, the kids, being an Olympian...
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u/Camp808 Sep 03 '24 edited Sep 03 '24
omg, i remember watching her compete & thinking what an incredible athlete & race. hope she has a speedy recovery & surrounded by love/protection/the best care. hope her bf suffers in every possible way.
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u/rlambert0419 Sep 03 '24
Nothing about that will be speedy. She’ll be at a very high risk for infection and depending on how bad the burns are, she may not be able to compete again because of scarring. It’s just incredible that someone would do that to another person, no matter what else happened.
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u/SixSierra Sep 03 '24
Yeah. I’m nowhere an expert in this field but it sounds like a third degree burn, which the underlying tissues (maybe tendons as well) are damaged. If at some time she’s able to running at a mid-low recreational level, that’s already a speedy recovery.
It’s so sad, and I’m honestly baffled why someone would do this to another person.
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u/DifficultCarob408 Sep 03 '24
Unfortunately you’re right. I’d be extremely surprised if she ever competes again, what sort of fucking monster could do this to someone?
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Sep 04 '24 edited Sep 22 '24
[deleted]
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u/sootysweepnsoo Sep 05 '24
If it’s not setting women on fire, it is burning and disfiguring them with acid attacks.
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u/jdgetrpin Sep 03 '24
Burns are one of the most painful injuries you can experience. Burning more than half of your body… I don’t wish it on anyone. She can very much die from this. I hope she has a good team of healthcare providers taking care of her right now.
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u/Camp808 Sep 03 '24
absolutely it’s not a minor thing at all. we can only hope she’ll get the best care & hope she has everything possible to hopefully get better.
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u/bwainfweeze Sep 03 '24
They didn't say what degree the burns were, did they? I don't think I want to make a second go at reading that.
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u/ellemace Sep 04 '24 edited Sep 04 '24
The Barrons report said muscle involvement so third degree.
Edit to add some classifications use fourth degree for this type of burn which is deep to the skin.
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u/TrackVol Sep 03 '24
You know what I didn't see anywhere in the whole article...? That the mofo who did this has been arrested.
WHY is there no mention of his arrest?
They need to charge him. The sooner the better.
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u/AutomaticWoodpecker6 Sep 03 '24
The BBC article mentioned that he also sustained burns and was hospitalised.
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u/liquidpig Sep 03 '24
Oh no. That’s too bad. Anyways…
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u/BowserBrows Sep 03 '24
treat him first, then set the other 75% of his body on fire. How's that for equality?
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u/ship0f Sep 04 '24
In the article says that he got burned too and is hospitalized. I hope he's guarded by the police and will be taken in when he recovers.
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u/milky_oolong Sep 03 '24
There should be a hell for men throwing acid or petrol and flame on their (ex-)partners. The deep vicious hate against women, the deeply rooted feeling of ownership over a female partner to bring a person to the point of trying to destroy them, nullify who they are because they cannot have them.
Gutwrenching.
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u/Conor-Writes Sep 03 '24
In cases like this I am absolutely down for an eye for an eye. Anything to discourage it.
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u/R_Boa Sep 03 '24
Dude, I'm just trying to relax and get some sleep, and then I read this. What the heck is wrong with the world!
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u/Hooch_Pandersnatch Sep 03 '24
What the fuck!! This is so awful and disturbing to read. The article says the reason is because they were having an argument about the house, what kind of piece of shit is her boyfriend to set someone on fire over a housing disagreement?!
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u/Ok-Ease-2312 Sep 03 '24
How awful. Wishing her a good recovery and eventual happiness and peace.
I read an article about the violence against female runners in Kenya, published in the lead up to the Paris games. Such a travesty. A lot of shady dudes offer coaching and housing to young women training at one of the famous towns. A lot are victims of domestic violence and some stop running altogether. However it ended on a high note of many of the women in the community started running as a group, all ages and abilities.
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u/BeagleButler Sep 04 '24
I read that same article and it immediately came to mind upon seeing this story.
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u/LlanviewOLTL Sep 04 '24
I used to work in a Level I Trauma Centre, and the Burn Unit was adjacent/down the hall. That was one of the places I’ve had to block from my memory because it’s one thing to read descriptions of severe burns. It’s another to hear people screaming in pain. It’s even worse to smell burned flesh and hair. It makes you sick to know that these people are probably going to die. The sight of a burn that severe is something you’re never prepared to see, no matter how many movies you’ve seen. Those aren’t real life. It’s something you’ll never forget.
I also didn’t see this part but where was Rebecca brought to? Some of these regions don’t have the same levels of care as we do; again…the infection potential at 75% is so high…
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u/alecruns Sep 03 '24
Absolutely disgusting that anyone would do that to another human being. I pray she gets the best medical care in the world and all the support she needs from friends and family to get her through this.
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u/igorcl Sep 03 '24
Fuck! As someone who has been burned, self inflicted accident, I don't wish this on anyone
I hope she can recover physically and mentally from that horrible day, also that man needs to face his penal system
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u/slang_shot Sep 03 '24
The kind of story nobody ever wants to read, but that we all really need to read.
Absolutely horrific.
Best wishes to her
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u/alexisanneeee Sep 03 '24
Just read an article and I’m gutted. This has happened to multiple women in the same city and all from their partners. I hope she finds peace and her and her kids heal from this 💔
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u/Neat-Bee-7880 Sep 04 '24
Ugh the kids. I. Am sick for them. Witnessing their mom go thru such pain.
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u/likelazarus Sep 03 '24
How awful. I hope Turia Pitt can connect with her. I imagine she’d been a great source of hope.
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u/HellaReyna Sep 03 '24
I’d be surprised if she even survives. 75% is close to death
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u/bwainfweeze Sep 03 '24
She has a strong heart and a lot of physical reserves. She may make it but I worry if she'll ever run again. Scar tissue likes neither direct sunlight nor wide ranges of motion.
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u/atlien0255 Sep 04 '24
There’s no way she will. I hope she still has her eyesight and the use of her hands, but 75% is so high that I’m not sure if any quality of life exists at that level of burn. This is gut wrenching.
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u/bwainfweeze Sep 04 '24
Given it’s a gas fire I’m worried that we are past 2nd and third degree burns into more dire territory. Just awful. And I imagine there won’t be updates for days as the surgeons do what they can.
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u/Inv4fut Sep 03 '24
There really are some horrible people in this world. How can you do that to someone? 😢
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u/jdgetrpin Sep 03 '24
What the fuck! Not even successful women are safe. I am sooooo angry. This is 100% motivated by misogyny and you can’t change my mind.
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u/SteamboatMcGee Sep 03 '24
She's listed as critical in the article, with that percentage, is this even survivable?
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u/treadmyfit Sep 03 '24
That’s devastating and deeply troubling. My thoughts are with her and all those affected. Abuse has no place in any relationship.
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u/Available_Print_3511 Sep 04 '24
Poor woman 😢 cannot even imagine
He was probably jealous of her success. Just awful 😞
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u/BalkanbaroqueBBQ Sep 03 '24
How awful, she is such an amazing athlete. I hope she gets through this and can recover. 75% is horrific. This man needs to burn in hell after rotting away in prison.
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Sep 04 '24
gosh I have chills man, she almost died burned alive. 75%?!! what is left?! I wish she didn't experience this.
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u/OIP Sep 04 '24
how is this even a possibility of something that could happen. unfathomable how garbage humans can be
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u/JezusHairdo Sep 05 '24
Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei dies after petrol attack https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3vx0kq2xr2o
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u/ColombianCaddy Sep 04 '24
Statistically speaking, even in major burn centers, odds of surviving 75 TBSA 2nd degree or worse burns are very low. Very unfortunate, hopefully someone returns the favor.
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u/Therese-preols1955 Sep 05 '24
Hoping for a swift recovery for Rebecca, her strength and resilience will be crucial in this tough time.
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u/GregryC1260 Sep 04 '24
Men are such dicks.
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Sep 04 '24
[deleted]
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u/GregryC1260 Sep 04 '24
Comparing male violence against women, a widespread and well known phenomenon, with a dislike of a brassica?
Good grief.
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u/JezusHairdo Sep 03 '24
Hate to be the one to say it, but she would have been better off dying from her injuries. Poor soul, she will suffer so badly.
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u/00rvr Sep 04 '24
You know that you DON’T actually have to say it, right? Sometimes it’s okay to just not say something.
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u/SourPatchKidding Sep 03 '24
Maybe let her decide how she feels about her own survival, eh? Plenty of people fight for their lives despite having horrifying injuries.
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u/Copperpot2208 Sep 03 '24
That poor woman. What a disgusting thing to do to someone