A ITV horse racing presenter has been left stranded in Dubai after witnessing a terrifying missile attack – less than a week before the start of the iconic Cheltenham Festival
Rishi Persad is stranded in Dubai(Image: PA)
ITV presenter Rishi Persad has revealed a “shiver went down my spine” after he witnessed a missile attack when presenting during a horse racing meeting in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
Persad told The Sun: “The cameramen filming myself and co-presenter Angus McNae were looking into the sky and mouthing, ‘Oh s**t’. So we turned around and saw something looking like a red light fizzing through the sky and then we heard explosions.
“There was one particularly loud explosion that really sent a shiver down my spine. But the racing just carried on and we carried on doing our job.”
The 52-year-old is expected to return home for his wife Holly’s 50th birthday on Friday and to undertake presenting duties for next week’s iconic Cheltenham Festival. “Holly and my 15-year-old daughter Evie are understandably a bit worried,” Persad added.
“They’ve never had to think about my safety when I’ve been abroad before. I’d love to be home for Holly’s birthday and hope that it’s not an issue getting to Cheltenham. ITV are fully aware of the situation.”
READ MORE: Lindsay Lohan’s family ‘concerned’ as star remains in Dubai despite Iran warREAD MORE: Geordie Shore star Sam Gowland flees Dubai as he sends message to UAE government
Persad had been due to fly home from the Middle East on Sunday, but a series of cancellations have left him stranded amid the conflict there. He does, however, hope to return to the United Kingdom on Thursday afternoon after booking a scheduled flight, adding: “There’s no contingency plan.”
He had flown out to Dubai last Thursday to present the Super Saturday meeting at Dubai’s Meydan racecourse for Racing TV. But Persad didn’t have a clue that war had broken out until fellow presenter Megan Nicholls – who is also stuck in the United Arab Emirates – delivered the news.
“I had no idea what was going on until I met Megan in the hotel lobby to get a taxi to the racecourse,” Persad said. “She said, ‘Have you seen what’s happening around the Gulf?’ I thought, ‘Oh my God, that’s not great’.
“Then when we got to the racecourse, a few more people were talking about what they’d heard and seen. Some then started suggesting that the meeting might be in danger.
“It was mid-Saturday afternoon and, very quickly, I understand the Dubai Racing Club had spoken to officials in the UAE (United Arab Emirates) and then assured us that it would be safe to continue.
“However, they did say that if there was any member of our crew who felt unsafe or anybody that felt that they didn’t want to be there, then they would try and accommodate them as best as possible.”
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! All the best sports news and much more on our dedicated Facebook page
And it was while Persad was working on Saturday evening when Dubai landmarks including Fairmont The Palm and the Burj Al Arab hotels as well as the airport had been hit by missiles and falling debris.
Despite this, Persad was reassured when Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, 76, arrived at the race meeting. “I was on air all the time and couldn’t really get a handle on what was going on,” he continued.
“So you’re hearing all these things while you’re working and getting a little bit scared, understandably. But then you see His Highness Sheikh Mohammed turn up and that actually just calms the temperature down somewhat because you’re thinking, ‘Well, if he’s come to the races, then it must be safe’.”
Last Saturday (28 February), US president Donald Trump announced that the US and Israeli militaries had begun “major combat operations” in Iran.
