Kiptum’s autopsy confirmed that he died of severe head injuries

The Kenyan athlete Kelvin Kiptumthe world marathon record holder, died of severe head injuries in a traffic accident on February 11, according to the results of autopsy published this Wednesday by Johansen Oduor, pathologist for the Government of Kenya.

In statements to reporters after performing an autopsy on the deceased at the morgue of Eldoret Hospital (west), Oduor disclosed that the runner suffered a massive skull fracture which caused his death.

“The late Kelvin suffered serious head injury. There were serious skull fractures that occurred mainly at the base of the skull,” the doctor explained, specifying that, in addition, “there were several fractures to the ribs on both sides.”

“There is also lung injuries. “What really caused Kelvin’s death were severe head injuries that, when I looked at them, looked more like they were caused by a car accident,” the doctor said.

Oduor added that the samples were taken for further analysis because the circumstances of the death are under investigation.

“The samples – he pointed out – will be subjected to a complete toxicological analysis so that we can see if there is anything that could have contributed to his death.”

The Kiptum familyfor his part, was satisfied with the results of the autopsy.

“We are satisfied with the results. I witnessed the entire process (…). Now we are waiting for the samples that, they said, will be taken for analysis,” he said Philip KiplagatKiptum’s family spokesperson.

He funeral of the athlete will be celebrated this Friday with the attendance, among others, of the president of Kenya, William Ruto.

The funeral will take place at his birthplace in the town of Chepkorio (west).

The 24-year-old athlete died along with his coach, Rwandan Gervais Hakizimana, in a traffic accident that occurred on February 11 at night on the road connecting Eldoret to Kaptagat (west), in a car that he driven. the athlete himself.

The accident unleashed a wave of sympathy in Kenya and around the world praising the figure of Kiptum, who was called to mark an era in athletics because of his youth and for being the main candidate to go under two hours in the mythical distance.

He became famous in the world on October 8, when he set the time of 2h00:35 and he clearly brought down the previous record held by his countryman Eliud Kipchoge with 2h01:09, achieved in Berlin on September 25, 2022.