Published on 26.02.2024
Kenyan athlete Charles Kipsang Kipkorir passed away following his participation in the 29th edition of the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope on Saturday.
The 32-year-old collapsed minutes after crossing the finish line at the Molyko Stadium and despite immediate medical attention efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.
According to Xinhua News Agency, Charles Kipsang Kipkorir died on Saturday in Cameroon.
“A Kenyan runner died of a suspected heart attack after collapsing at the finish of Saturday’s Cameroon mountain race, Africa’s oldest international athletic competition, according to officials,” says Xinhua.
Bernard Okalai Bilia, Governor of the Southwest region where the race took place said that Kipsang was leading the race but suffered a malaise that forced him to briefly stop minutes to the finish line.
It is reported that the 33-year-old athlete managed to cross the finish line but later collapsed after collecting his prize.
Efforts were made and Kipsang was rushed to the hospital where he died a few minutes later.
However, Governor Billia said they could not reveal exactly what happened to Kipsang as he appeared fine after the race.
“We might believe that it is something like heart attack,” Bilia told reporters Saturday.
“It is a very sad situation because he was at his fourth participation. It is a great loss for the African athletic federation, for his country Kenya, and for us Cameroon,” Billia added.
There was consternation and sadness in the town of Buea, which hosted the race following the announcement of his death.
