Autopsy confirms marathoner Kelvin Kiptum's cause of death

The late Marathon World Record Holder Kelvin Kiptum died from severe head trauma sustained during a car crash, Government Pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor has revealed.

Addressing journalists after conducting a post-mortem on the deceased at Eldoret Hospital mortuary on Wednesday, Dr. Oduor disclosed that the late marathoner sustained extensive skull  fractures at the base of his skull leading to his demise.

"The late Kelvin had severe head injuries. There were severe skull fractures which were mainly at the base of the skull and the spinal cord had intruded into the canal cavity because of that. Further to that there were some fractures on the ribs on both sides," he stated.

"On the left side, the first, second and third ribs were fractured and on the right side the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and seventh ribs were fractured. There were also injuries to the lungs. What actually killed the late Kelvin was severe head injuries which when I look at them they look more of something caused by a motor vehicle accident."

Dr. Oduor added that biological samples have been collected from the deceased for further analysis to determine whether any external factors played a role in his demise.

"We have taken samples for further analysis because the circumstances of the death are being investigated. The samples will undergo full toxicological analysis so that we can see whether there was anything that could have contributed to his death," he said.

The family of Kiptum, on their side, expressed contentment with the results of the autopsy.

"We are pleased with the findings of the results. I witnessed the whole process which started at around 11am and ended around 1:40pm. We are now waiting for the samples they have said will be taken for analysis," Philip Kiplagat, the late Kiptum's family spokesperson said.

"Mwili itatolewa hapa kesho ielekee nyumbani Naiberi; Kwa Jerunya. Hafla ya maombi itafanyika Chepsamo Primary School mahali alikuwa anasomea na village ambaye alikuwa anaishi."

Kiptum passed away on February 11 alongside his Rwandese coach Gervais Hakizimana in a horrific road accident.

The tragic road crash occurred at around 11pm at Kaptagat area along Elgeyo Marakwet-Ravine road where Kiptum and Hakizimana died on the spot due to the impact of the accident.

Kiptum rose to prominence in the world of athletics after registering the fastest marathon debut in Valencia in 2022.

The 24-year-old star continued to rise in 2023 when he conquered the London Marathon with a course record of 2:01:25 in April.

It was however in October when Kiptum made headlines after he shattered the men's world record by clocking 2:00:35, to become the first man to run a marathon in under two hours and one minute, and taking 34 seconds off fellow Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge's previous record.

Kiptum is set to be buried on Friday, in what a Kenyan athletics official previously told AFP would be a "state function" attended by President William Ruto.

The funeral was initially set to be held on Saturday, but was brought forward by a day due to President Ruto’s schedule.