An autopsy report has revealed what killed the late Marathon world Record holder Kelvin Kiptum.
Government Pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor revealed that Kiptum succumbed to severe injuries suffered on the head.
Dr. Oduor was speaking at the Eldoret Hospital in Uasin Gishu County on February 21, 2024, shortly after leading a postmortem examination on the body of the late marathoner.
“I am through with the postmortem of the body of the late Kelvin Kiptum. As I said, there were severe head injuries. There were severe skull fractures at the base of skull. There were also fractures on the ribs,” said Oduor.
According to the pathologist, the late Kelvin Kiptum died as a result of severe injuries suffered in different parts of the body including the lungs.
Samples taken from the body of Kiptum
However, the pathologist revealed that the team has since taken more samples for analysis to be able to ascertain the circumstances that may have led to Kiptum losing control of the vehicle.
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“There are some samples we have taken which shall undergo what we call full toxicology analysis so that we can see whether there could be anything which may have contributed to his involvement in the accident,” he added.
Also, an autopsy report released on February 16, 2024, at the same hospital confirmed that Kiptum’s Rwandese marathon trainer Gervais Hakizimana died as a result of head injuries.
The report, which was consistent with a police report on the car accident, was revealed after a postmortem was conducted by Dr Benson Macharia, a pathologist.
Speaking at the Eldoret hospital, the pathologist revealed that the cause of Hakizimana’s is common in car crashes.
“This actually was extensive bleeding and therefore I made a conclusion that the cause of death for Hakizimana Gervais was what we call intracranial bleeding due to head injury and this is consistent with a motor vehicle accident,” said the pathologist.
Family raises questions
However, the late marathon trainer’s family went on to raise questions on the autopsy report.
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While the family was satisfied with the report, it raised questions as to how the accident happened, including how a woman survived with minor injuries.
Furthermore, the family indicated that after viewing the body without deep scars, it was difficult to convince anyone that the deceased was pulled out of the wreckage.
The family also made an appeal to the government to launch investigations into the death of the late Kelvin Kiptum.
Gervais was laid to rest on February 21, 2024, after his body was airlifted to his native country, Rwanda.
