Race Across the World Contestant Breaks Down Over Father's Covid Death
A contestant on the BBC reality show Race Across the World became visibly emotional and broke down in tears as she reflected on the heartbreaking loss of her father to Covid-19. The poignant moment unfolded during the latest episode, highlighting the lasting impact of the pandemic on frontline workers and their families.
Emotional Birthday Reflections in Turkey
The scene took place as Puja, a 32-year-old doctor, and her cousin Roshni travelled through Turkey on Puja's birthday. Struggling to hold back her emotions, Puja explained that her special day has never been the same since losing her father during the pandemic. "When we lost Dad, all of our birthdays have just been slightly different," she said, her voice trembling. "Having a card from Dad, just Dad being present… just seeing that familiar face." Unable to contain her grief any longer, she put her head in her hands and sobbed, "I just don't have it anymore."
Frontline Guilt and Pandemic Trauma
Puja went on to describe her intense experience of the pandemic, having worked in an emergency department. In a piece to camera, she revealed, "After medical school, I was working in emergency medicine, I was really loving the job – but Covid kind of changed everything for me." In December 2021, she contracted Covid while treating a flood of sick patients and self-isolated at home. Tragically, her father then fell ill with the virus. "Having a relative in hospital with Covid – it feels like someone has your heart in their hands and is breaking it to pieces," she shared, adding, "It's heartbreaking when it hits you. He is not going to come back."
She expressed deep guilt to Roshni, saying, "I felt a lot of guilt, because in my mind, I brought Covid home, I put him in this situation and it was my fault. I still struggle with that." This candid admission underscored the emotional toll on healthcare workers who risked their lives during the crisis.
Fan Reactions and Show Context
Viewers at home were quick to react on social media, with one writing on X, "Omg I'm in absolute bits," while another noted, "Oh you can just hear the guilt in her voice. Heartbroken for her. Highlights her sacrifice - just like all front line staff during the pandemic." The episode ended with Puja and Roshni being the first pairing eliminated, arriving at the checkpoint in Turkey in fifth place.
The current series, described by the BBC as the most difficult journey to date, tasks pairs with travelling over 12,000km from Sicily to northern Mongolia without smartphones or bank cards, using only cash equivalent to flying the route. The duos include:
- Best friends Jo and Kush
- Siblings Katie and Harrison
- Father and daughter Andrew and Molly
- In-laws Mark and Margo
The team who completes the journey fastest wins a £20,000 prize. Race Across the World has been a BBC hit since 2019, featuring both civilians and celebrities on life-changing adventures. The show airs Thursdays on BBC One and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
