A Kenyan athlete set to participate in next month's Eker I Run Marathon in Turkey is nursing serious injuries following an attack by hippos.
A report by Citizen TV indicated that the athlete, Edwin Mokua, 28, was exercising in Manguu Village near Nyahururu Town when the attack happened.
He sustained injuries in his back as well as the shoulder and was taken to the Nyahururu Private Hospital for first aid.
Addressing the press, his training partner Dennis Kipkosgei disclosed that he noticed Mokua had drifted away during their evening jog when he became concerned.
He returned to get him but saw that a number of hippos had attacked him and left him with injuries.
"He was attacked by hippos. He had colleagues who attempted to rescue him but sadly, he was deeply wounded," stated another witness
Mokua, a champion of The Trabzon Half Marathon, had travelled from Kisii and was preparing to leave for Turkey to participate in the marathon set for the weekend beginning Saturday, October 3.
Mokua was later transferred to Nyahururu County & Referral Hospital for specialised treatment.
The athlete's coach Francis Kamau disclosed that residents from Nyahururu had endured attacks from the wild animals since Covid-19 pandemic hit the country.
He appealed to the state to open a stadium in the region to help athletes practice without attacks from the world animals.
Over the past month, the hippos, which residents claim have increased in number, attacked and injured two people in the area with the latest case having taken place four days ago.
