Former Olympic champion David Rudisha has survived an horrific plane crash just three years after his car collided head-on with a bus.
Rudisha holds the 800-metre world record of one minute and 40.91 seconds and won Olympic gold medals at both London 2012 and Rio 2016. The 33-year-old, who last competed in 2017, was onboard a light aircraft flying out from Kimana Wildlife Sanctuary in his native Kenya when the dramatic crash happened.
Within eight minutes of the plane taking off its engine failed, resulting in the pilot taking evasive action before one of the wings hit a tree and the plane landed upside down.
"All was well close to seven or eight minutes into the flight when the engine of the plane suddenly went quiet," Rudisha told the Daily Nation. "He (the pilot) saw some clear space where he tried to land the plane, but one of its wings hit a tree as the plane started to spin before landing on the rocky field. The pilot did an incredible job to keep the plane afloat and stable for long.
"It was a scary episode where you hold your heart in your hand as you pray to God."
The Kenyan star received hospital treatment for minor injuries before being discharged. Rushida had attended the Maasai Olympics, for which he is a patron, at the Kimana Wildlife Sanctuary.
Kenya Masters Athletics chairman Stephen Ole Marai was also on the plane and suffered breathing difficulties after the crash, resulting in him being taken to a hospital in Nairobi for further treatment.
Amazingly, three years ago, Rudisha was involved in another near-death experience when his car collided head-on into a bus when one of his tyres reportedly burst, resulting in his vehicle being heavily damaged. Again the former 800-metre runner was able to walk away from the incident.
"Thanking the Almighty God for the gift of life," Rushida tweeted after the car crash.
"Saturday night around 1030hrs I survived a tragic road accident at Keroka on my way home to Kilgoris after a head on collision with a bus. I am fine with no injuries! Thank you for your prayers."
