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Pregnant Ethiopian Athlete; Legesse Dies, Baby Saved

8-months pregnant Ethiopian Olympic runner Meskerem Legesse died of a massive heart attack on Monday in Westport, Hamden. Medical personnel who were alerted were quick … Continue reading Pregnant Ethiopian Athlete; Legesse Dies, Baby Saved


8-months pregnant Ethiopian Olympic runner Meskerem Legesse died of a massive heart attack on Monday in Westport, Hamden.

Medical personnel who were alerted were quick to deliver the athlete’s baby who was due to be delivered in three weeks.

According to reports, Legesse who ran the 1,500 meters in the 2004 Olympics for Ethiopia went to a Chinese restaurant with her 2-year old son to order food but 7 seconds after she took a seat toppled over her face and she was sustained with CPR by medical personnel till she was driven to the hospital where they saved the baby girl while Legesse died leaving behind her Tom Laverty; her partner, her 2-year-old son and the new born.

Before her death, plans were already in place for their marriage.

According her friend Fatima Sene, Legesse was supposed to see her that day to make her hair.

Obviously disheartened by the news of Legesse’ death, Sene described her friend as a very good person who would do anything for anybody.

The state medical examiner’s office however declined to perform an autopsy because of Legesse’s past health problems.

Legesse ran in the 1,500 meter competition at the Athens Olympics in 2004 but did not advance to the medal round. Her children are now with their father and Sene.

Arrangements are being made to bring Legesse’s body to Ethiopia.