Tributes paid to the five ‘true explorers’ who died on board Titan sub
Heartfelt tributes have been paid to the five people on board the Titan submersible, after it was revealed the craft suffered a catastrophic implosion on its journey down to the Titanic shipwreck.
OceanGate, the company who operated the dive said: âWe now believe that our CEO Stockton Rush, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, Hamish Harding, and Paul-Henri Nargeolet, have sadly been lost.â
âThese men were true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the worldâs oceans.
âOur hearts are with these five souls and every member of their families during this tragic time. We grieve the loss of life and joy they brought to everyone they knew.â
The family British businessman Hamish Harding also paid tribute to their âdedicated fatherâ.
The adventurer was described as âa guide, an inspiration, a support, and a living legendâ.
The US Coast Guard confirmed the tail cone of the deep-sea vessel was discovered around 1,600 ft from the bow of the Titanic wreckage during a press conference on Thursday.
Rear Admiral John Mauger said further debris was also found, in the North Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Newfoundland, that was âconsistent with a catastrophic loss of the pressure chamberâ.
US military picked up a âlarge acoustic signalâ indicating a possible implosion around the time the Titan submersible went missing, according to a source close to the investigation.
The Explorers Club, of which Mr Harding was a founding trustee, said âour hearts are brokenâ.
In a short statement, Mr Hardingâs family said: âHe was one of a kind and we adored him.
âHe was a passionate explorer â whatever the terrain â who lived his life for his family, his business and for the next adventure.
âWhat he achieved in his lifetime was truly remarkable and if we can take any small consolation from this tragedy, itâs that we lost him doing what he loved.â
Mr Hardingâs family said his death has left a âgap in our lives that can never be filledâ, and that they were âunited in griefâ with the families of the others who had died.
âWe know that Hamish would have been immensely proud to see how nations, experts, industry colleagues and friends came together for the search and we extend our heartfelt thanks for all their efforts,â they said.
Shahzada Dawoodâs company paid tribute to him and his son.
In a statement, Engro Corporation, the Pakistani conglomerate that Mr Dawood was vice chairman of, said: âWith heavy hearts and great sadness, we grieve the loss of our vice chairman, Shahzada Dawood, and his beloved son, Suleman Dawood.
âWe extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, colleagues, friends and all those around the world who grieve this unthinkable loss.â
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly described the update as âtragic newsâ and said the UK Government is closely supporting the British families affected.
The White House said the families of those who died had âbeen through a harrowing ordeal over the past few days, and we are keeping them in our thoughts and prayers.â
