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Manchester United supporter suicide: Kenyan fan ‘jumps to his death’ after team’s defeat to Newcastle

By Danielle Wainwright

A Manchester United fan has jumped to his death from the seventh floor of a building in Kenya after finding out that his team lost to Newcastle at the weekend.

John Jimmy Macharia, 23, died on Saturday in Nairobi after Manchester United lost 1-0. It is thought that he told his friends he could not bear to see his beloved team lose twice in a row after they lost 1-0 to Everton on Wednesday.

He then plunged to his death.

Nairobi County Police Chief Benson Kibue said: “All witness accounts suggest he committed suicide because the team lost but officers are still talking to those who were with him as part of the investigations into the incident.”


SUICIDE: The death reported on KTN Kenya

PC Kibue added that football fans in the country must not get emotionally carried away by the game after a Kenyan Arsenal fan committed suicide in 2009 when he learned of their defeat by Manchester United.  

“It is not the first time we are losing a young man because of the football in England, which is far away from us. They need to know that is just a game,” he said.

The body was later removed with Macharia thought to have died instantly on impact.

Picture courtesy of NTV Kenyan via YouTube, with thanks.

Video courtesy of KTN Kenya, with thanks.

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