Geraldo Rivera Breaks Down About Daughter Surviving Paris Attack

It was a father's worst nightmare. Geraldo Rivera tearfully recounted how his daughter Simone was watching a soccer match in a Paris stadium as the horrifying terrorist attack on the city unfolded on Friday, Nov. 13.

His voice breaking as he held up a photo of his 21-year-old daughter, Rivera, who is a Fox News contributor, was visibly shaken as he told colleague Shepard Smith, "My daughter Simone told me she heard the three explosions near halftime … It was chaos."

At least three bombs were set off outside the soccer stadium, reportedly killing several people. Multiple mass shootings also occurred, with gunmen storming the Bataclan arts center, where the American band Eagles of Death Metal was among the bands performing. The concert attack killed at least 100 concertgoers, according to CNN. "I just thank god she was at the stadium and not at the rock concert," Rivera said.

The newsman said that he and his family were due to fly to France Thanksgiving week to see Simone, who is spending her junior year abroad.

She is safe pic.twitter.com/TkcSNVTisy

— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) November 14, 2015

Rivera said that his daughter’s phone wasn't working as she and her friends left the stadium. "You can imagine what it was like for us, as parents, waiting for her to communicate with us. Thank god her friend called her mom, her mom called me … We're very concerned, we won't rest until she is in her apartment."

When he finally managed to reach her, he advised Simone not to take the subway. "We don't want her to travel, to do anything."

Thank God daughter Simone is safe. After fleeing soccer stadium she was stranded. A blessed Paris friend drove to area & is taking her home.

— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) November 14, 2015

Simone was emotional as she later spoke to Fox News on the phone and admitted that she was still shaking. As her crying father pleaded with her not to go outside or talk to strangers, he said that he wanted to go to Paris and get her and had a plane waiting, but the borders were closed. (The French president ordered the borders closed in the wake of the attacks.)

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