A British DJ has said he is “devastated” and “lucky to be alive” after he was allegedly ambushed by an armed gang in Brazil who then chased him and his crew at high speed down a motorway.
Daley Pedley, who goes by the stage name Hot Since 82, canceled his upcoming shows and said he doesn’t think he’ll ever return to the country after the ordeal.
He said he did not know if the gang were “thieves or murderers” but claimed they specifically attacked his car in downtown Rio de Janeiro while he was traveling from a club to the airport with his team.
The gang wore balaclavas and was armed with AK-47s, Pedley said, adding that their “heroic” driver put the car in reverse before speeding “miles and miles down the highway in reverse to try to get away from the shooters.”
“We were very lucky we didn’t crash because we were weaving in and out of oncoming traffic at 60 or 70 mph with the car full of AK47s following us,” he said in an emotional Instagram video.
Pedley said the gang “were adamant that they were going to get us” and that they only managed to escape them thanks to their driver.
The 41-year-old told his 525,000 followers that the chase was “like a scene from Fast and Furious” but did not explain how his car was able to reverse at such high speed.
The Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro has said that no incident report related to the case has been recorded so far, according to Brazilian media.
Pedley said the gang “were adamant that they were going to get us” and that they only managed to escape them thanks to the maneuvers of their driver, which he said probably saved their lives.
The music producer, who has children at home and a baby on the way in six weeks, said he was sad to have to leave Brazil, but “can’t risk being put in a position like this.”
He said he sympathized with the people of Brazil who have to live in dangerous conditions, adding that “humanity is cruel.”
The musician, originally from Barnsley, said he changed hotel rooms after the encounter and booked the next flight home.
He apologized to fans waiting to see him perform, but said he had to put their “safety” first.
The DJ said he believes he and his team were “deceived” and that someone had told the alleged jackers where they would be and when, without providing evidence to support their claim.
The artist canceled concerts at the Time Warp Festival in Sao Paulo and the Warung Festival in Curitiba.
‘I’m devastated inside. “It makes you lose faith in humanity to think that someone has told these shooters where we’re going to be,” he said.
The electronic house artist canceled concerts at the Time Warp Festival in Sao Paulo and the Warung Festival in Curitiba.
Pedley’s Instagram was flooded with support from fans and fellow musicians, who said they were glad to have escaped the attack.
DJ Sonny Fodera wrote: “I’m glad you’re okay bro, come home safe,” while world-famous Dutch producer Tiesto said: “I’m so glad to hear you’re safe.”
