World 800M record holder David Rudisha narrowly avoided death on Saturday, December 10, when the jet he was traveling in crashed in the Imbirikana district of Kajiado County.
Rudisha was on the little plane at the time of the crash along with five other passengers. After taking part in the Maasai Marathon at the Kimana Wildlife Sanctuary in Kajiado South, they were making their way back to Nairobi.
The event, which was attended by Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku, sought to highlight conservation efforts for wildlife.
The 2012 Olympic 800m champion from London, Rudisha, who successfully defended his title in Rio in 2016, and his teammates were unharmed.
Rudisha claims that the 5Y-BGJ aircraft took off shortly after the incident in Kimana. However, after around eight minutes of flight, the plane's engine abruptly shut off.
Rudisha claims that despite the engine shutting out, the pilot made every effort to keep the plane above trees and locate a place to crash land.
"He attempted to land the plane in a clear area after spotting it, but one of its wings collided with a tree, causing it to spin before coming to rest on the stony terrain. We praise God that we all survived, despite minor soft tissue injuries that were treated before everyone except one was released, according to Rudisha, who spoke to Nation.Africa.
Adding, Rudisha "It was a terrifying experience where you prayed to God while holding your heart in your hand. To keep the plane stable and floating for so long, the pilot did an amazing job."
Mark Jenkins, a conservationist and former warden for the Kenya Wildlife Service, and his son Peter perished in a plane crash on December 8 only two days prior to the incident.
They were attempting to drive cattle, camels, and goats out of Tsavo East National Park when their Cessna Sky Wagon light aircraft crashed.
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