Five dead on Titan were true explorers -OceanGate
The five people who died on the Titan submersible were “true explorers”, the company who operated the dive has said.
The men “shared a distinct spirit of adventure,” said OceanGate in a statement.
The men died in what the US Coast Guard believes was a catastrophic implosion.
Five parts of the submersible were found on Thursday, approximately 1,600ft (487m) from the bow of the Titanic wreck. It had disappeared on Sunday.
The men on board the sub included Stockton Rush, the 61-year-old CEO of OceanGate, British-Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his son Suleman, 19, and British businessman Hamish Harding, 58.
The fifth man on board, Paul-Henry Nargeolet, was a 77-year-old former French navy diver and renowned explorer.
IMAGE SOURCE,ENGRO CORPORATION/DH GROUP
At a news conference on Thursday, Rear Adm John Mauger of the US Coast Guard said that the debris is believed to be consistent with the Titan submersible.
It is unclear what led to the destruction of the Titan or when the implosion occurred.
The disappearance of the vessel led to a massive international search involving US, Canadian, British and French teams.
In a statement, OceanGate said it appreciated “their commitment to finding these five explorers, and their days and nights of tireless work in support of our crew and their families”.
Among those to pay their tributes after the announcement was Richard Garriot de Cayeux, the President of the US-based Explorers Club, of which Mr Harding and Mr Nargeolet were members.
Rear Admiral John Mauger of the US Coast Guard confirms the Titan sub was lost
In a statement, he said that the organisation is “heartbroken” and that the memories of the men “will be a blessing and will continue to inspire us in the name of science and exploration”.
Dive expert David Mearns said he lost two friends, Mr Harding and Mr Nargeolet, in a “most horrific way”.
“Hamish Harding was a terrific character,” Mr Mearns said, adding that Mr Nargeolet was “almost a legend really” in the field of deep sea exploration.
Azmeh Dawood told NBC News that her nephew Suleman was “terrified” before going on the trip, but braved the journey because he was eager to please his father.
“I feel disbelief,” she said. “It’s an unreal situation.”
How was the wreckage found?
The debris was located by a remote-controlled underwater search vehicle (ROV).
Separate pieces were discovered that allowed authorities to confirm they came from the Titan, including a tail cone.
Rear Adm Mauger said he did not have an answer on whether the bodies of the five men on board the vessel will be found.
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