ITV and Cheltenham Festival star stranded in Dubai after witnessing terrifying explosions
ITV horse racing presenter Rishi Persad has shared his horror at seeing an Iranian missile attack while live on camera at Meydan racecourse in the UAE
ITV presenter Rishi Persad was terrified to see Iranian missiles raining down in Dubai(Image: @TheAlexJacob/X)
ITV presenter Rishi Persad has spoken of the chilling moment he spotted Iranian missiles raining down on Dubai while he was on camera presenting at a race meeting.
The 52-year-old, who is expected to host at the Cheltenham Festival next week, admitted a “shiver went down my spine” as first his cameramen spotted the armaments flying overhead and mouthed the words ‘oh shit’. The cold reality of their situation hit home when the deafening explosions of the missiles hitting their targets began to ring out around them.
Incredibly, Persad continued presenting at the Super Saturday meeting at Dubai World Cup Carnival, Meydan Racecourse, through the attack. He 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.
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“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 set to return home for his wife Holly’s 50th birthday on Friday and to take on presenting duties for the upcoming 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.”, reports the Mirror.
Persad was scheduled to fly home from the Middle East on Sunday, but a series of cancellations have left him stuck amidst the conflict there. He does, however, hope to return to the United Kingdom on Thursday afternoon after securing a scheduled flight, adding: “There’s no contingency plan.”
He had travelled to Dubai last Thursday to cover the Super Saturday meeting at Dubai’s Meydan racecourse for Racing TV. However, Persad remained completely unaware that conflict had erupted until fellow presenter Megan Nicholls – who is also stranded in the United Arab Emirates – broke 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.”
It was while Persad was broadcasting on Saturday evening when Dubai landmarks including Fairmont The Palm and the Burj Al Arab hotels as well as the airport had been struck by missiles and falling debris. Despite this, Persad was comforted when Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, 76, turned up at the race meeting.
“I was on air all the time and couldn’t really get a handle on what was going on,” he went on.
“So you’re hearing all these things whilst you’re working and getting a bit frightened, understandably. But then you see His Highness Sheikh Mohammed arrive and that actually just cools things down a bit because you’re thinking, ‘Well, if he’s come to the races, then it must be safe’.”
Last Saturday (February 28), US president Donald Trump declared that the US and Israeli militaries had initiated “major combat operations” in Iran.
