Tragedy as marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum, 24, dies after veering off-road and hitting a tree, killing himself and his coach

World marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum has died after crashing his car into a ‘large’ tree, it has been revealed.

The runner died on Sunday at the age of 24 in his native Kenya, while his coach, Rwandan Gervais Hakizimana, 37, also died in the road accident near Kaptagat, an area in the south-west of the country known as a training base. for distance runners.

The news has turned the athletics world upside down. World Athletics president Seb Coe led the tributes to Kiptum on Sunday evening, saying he was “an incredible athlete who leaves an incredible legacy.”

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

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 and Hakizimana was still alive on a hill.

Kiptum lost control of his vehicle in his native Kenya, with his coach Gervais Hakizimana (right) and a female passenger also in the car, and hit a tree 60 meters from the main road.

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

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.

“We tried to save the carriage because it was still breathing, but it died immediately,” said Kimaiyo, who added that he had known Kiptum for a long time as he often visited his shop in Chepkorio.

“Kiptum was under his car with a torn seat belt and he was already dead,” he revealed.

It is said 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

Both Kiptum and Hakizimana died at the scene, with the former ‘under the car with a torn seat belt’

The newspaper adds that Kiptum, a father of two and son of a runner and volleyball player, 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.

He said the bodies have been taken to hospital for an autopsy, which will begin after families have been informed and “all arrangements have been made.”

He added that the accident occurred at 8:00 PM GMT, 11:00 PM local time, on Sunday and that the vehicle was “extensively damaged” and was towed to a local police station for “inspection and further police action.”

Kenyan journalist Kipruto Lagat, meanwhile, revealed photos of the crash site on social media in the early hours of Monday morning.

Kenyan journalist Kipruto Lagat has published photos of the crash site on social media, according to him

Lagat shared two images of a tree and what appeared to be the debris of a vehicle nearby

It was said the woman screamed for help and was taken to Sanvanis Dispensary before being transferred to MTRH

Police commander for Elgeyo Marakwet County in western Kenya, Peter Mulinge, confirmed that the two men who died ‘on the spot’ were Kiptum and Hakizimana, with Coe leading the tribute to the 24-year-old.

Coe wrote of X: “We are shocked and deeply saddened by the devastating loss of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana.

“On behalf of all of World Athletics, we extend our deepest condolences to their families, friends, teammates and the Kenyan nation.

‘It wasn’t until earlier this week in Chicago, the place where Kelvin set his extraordinary marathon world record, that I was able to officially ratify his historic time.

“An incredible athlete who leaves an incredible legacy, we will miss him dearly.”

World Athletics chairman Seb Coe led the tributes to the 24-year-old on social media

Kiptum was a married father of two and grew up in a family of athletes, with his father also being a runner and his mother a volleyball player.

Kiptum hoped to be the first man to break the two-hour barrier for a marathon in Rotterdam in April

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.

Kiptum also won his first London Marathon last April in a course record of 2:01.25, which was then the second fastest marathon time ever. It followed an eye-catching win on his marathon debut in Valencia in December 2022.

He would have been the favorite to win gold at this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris, in what would be an almighty showdown against his teammate Kipchoge, and was due to race at the Rotterdam Marathon in April, where he hoped to win for the first time ever to break the two-hour barrier on a course that qualifies for a record.