Tergat speaks out on road crash in Eldoret

By OMULO OKOTH

Former five-time world cross country champion and world marathon record holder Paul Tergat said it was by sheer luck and divine intervention that he survived the road accident near Eldoret on Thursday.

Tergat, 41, was flown to Nairobi and is recuperating at the Aga Khan Hospital’s Princess Zahra wing with a heavily-bandaged right leg, and body bruises.

"I was driving to Eldoret to attend a rehearsal for graduands at the Moi University where I was to be honoured with a honorary doctorate degree. I wanted to overtake a lorry when I saw an oncoming yellow lorry. I was caught between the stationery lorry and the oncoming one and the latter struck me," he said.

Paul Tergat assisted by wife Monica and an aide at the Aga Khan Hospital, Friday. [PHOTO: BONIFACE OKENDO / STANDARD]

"God has a purpose for me and each of us and I attribute my survival to this," Tergat, also twice Olympics 10,000m silver medalist, told reporters in his hospital ward as wife Monica, athletes Moses Tanui and Tegla Loroupe flanked him.

But he could not stop cracking jokes with the reporters and cameramen even as he was being wheeled to the chair for the brief Press conference.

"It was a miracle that I survived. But I am good now. I am touched by the overwhelming support from the entire world. I thank everybody, from those who removed me from the car, athletes, and many others who called me from around the world and the doctors who worked tirelessly to save me," said Tergat.

No one died in the midday accident, which left the driver’s side of his Mercedes Benz car a mangled wreck. He was alone in the car when the accident occurred. The World Food Programme ambassador was rushing to Eldoret hoping to return to Nairobi in time for the Sportspersons of The Year Awards (SOYA) gala, of which he is the founder and patron.