Kelvin Kiptum’s cause of death revealed after marathon world record holder died aged at 24, before police arrested four strangers who visited his home

The cause of Kelvin Kiptum’s tragic death has finally been revealed, as police arrest four strangers who visited his home.

Earlier this month, Kiptum, 24, was killed in a car crash in his native Kenya, which also killed his Rwandan coach Gervais Hakizimana.

The Kenyan distance runner’s death came just five days after World Athletics confirmed his world record time of 2:00.35, which he set when winning the Chicago Marathon.

Kiptum’s father Samson Cheruiyot called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his son’s death and now, following an autopsy by police, answers have been given.

According to MARCAJohansen Oduor – a pathologist for the government of Kenya – has revealed that Kiptum suffered ‘severe head injuries’ and ‘lung injuries’.

Kiptum made history last October when he clocked 2:00.35 to win the Chicago Marathon

‘The deceased Kelvin suffered serious head injuries. There were severe skull fractures that occurred mainly at the base of the skull,” the doctor explained.

He also claimed that there were ‘some fractures in the ribs on both sides’.

‘There were also injuries to the lungs. The actual cause of Kelvin’s death was a severe head injury that, when I look at it, looks more like a car accident,” the doctor noted.

Oduor added that samples have been taken for additional analysis as the circumstances of the death are under investigation.

“The samples – he stressed – will undergo a full toxicological analysis so that we can see if there was anything that could have contributed to his death.”

Kiptum’s family responded to the autopsy, saying, “We are pleased with the results. I witnessed the entire process.

“We are now waiting for the samples that they said will be taken for analysis,” said Philip Kiplagat, spokesman for Kiptum’s family.

According to The mirrorpolice also arrested four people who visited Kiptum’s home just four days before his death.

Kiptum (left) and coach Gervais Hakizimana (right) died in a traffic accident in Kaptagat, Kenya

Kiptum’s father called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his son’s death, claiming that a group of unknown men had started looking for the athlete not long before the horror car crash.

The crashed car driven by Marathon world record holder Kiptum stands in front of the police station in Kaptagat, Kenya, February 12, 2024

According to reports, police in Kenya made the arrests in the days after Kiptum’s father Samson Cheruiyot reported a visit from four strangers.

Cheruiyot had called on police to thoroughly investigate what happened to his son ahead of the autopsy results.

Kiptum made history in October when he clocked 2:00.35 to win the Chicago Marathon, breaking compatriot Eliud Kipchoge’s world record by 34 seconds. His milestone time was only officially ratified by World Athletics last Tuesday.

His coach, Gervais Hakizimana of Rwanda, also died in the road accident near Kaptagat, an area in the southwest of the country known as a training base for distance runners.

Details of the crash have revealed that a female passenger, Sharon Chepkemoi, 32, survived the incident after she was taken to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.

Earlier this month, mourners gathered to pay their respects to Kiptum following his death

According to Kenneth Kimaiyo – one of the first responders at the crash site – via NationKiptum’s body was found under the vehicle while the runner was already dead.

He said he saw a man on a motorcycle assist Chepkemoi at the scene, who screamed for help and was taken to Sanvanis Pharmacy before being transferred to MTRH.

The newspaper adds that Kiptum lost control of his vehicle at the Kaptagat area along the Eldama Ravine-Eldoret on his way back from Eldoret in Uasin Gishu County.

Athletics Kenya president Jackson Tuwei said the vehicle veered off the road into a ditch before hitting a large tree 60 meters off the main road.