Wife of OceanGate CEO receives shock as Titan submarine collapses in real time
Tragedy Strikes OceanGate's Titan Submersible
In a chilling moment captured by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), Wendy Rush, the wife of OceanGate's chief executive, inquired about an unexpected noise as the Titan submersible imploded.
Footage released by the USCG showed Mrs. Rush and colleague Gary Foss tracking the Titan's journey in the North Atlantic Ocean from support vessel Polar Prince. Upon hearing an unusual bang, Mrs. Rush asked, "What was that bang?" The USCG believes this noise, resembling a door slamming, was the implosion of the Titan reaching the ocean's surface.
Five lives were lost in the incident that occurred on June 18, 2023. Among the deceased were Titan operator and OceanGate founder Stockton Rush, British adventurer Hamish Harding, French deep-sea explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, and his 19-year-old son Suleman.
Investigators later discovered that the delayed message received by Mrs. Rush, indicating the sub had dropped two weights, was sent before the sub failed. Unfortunately, the team assumed the Titan was continuing its descent.
The footage has been presented as evidence to the USCG Marine Board of Investigation, which is probing the incident. A final report is expected following its completion.
The unfortunate event took place approximately 90 minutes into the descent, and the wreckage was eventually found on the ocean floor about 500 meters from the Titanic's wreck. The passengers had paid OceanGate to view the famous ship, situated around 3,800 meters below the ocean's surface.
After the disaster, concerns were raised over the Titan's unconventional design and Mr. Rush's refusal to submit to independent safety checks. An inquiry heard two weeks of testimony last September, revealing that the Titan malfunctioned during a dive just a few days before it imploded.
OceanGate paused all exploration and commercial operations in July 2023, following the incident.
[1] [2] [4] - Relevant sources omitted due to brevity.
Unfortunately, the tragedy of the Titan submersible's implosion is not limited to OceanGate's exploration ventures. General news outlets have reported an increase in accidents, including car-accidents and other incidents, attributing the rise to a lack of safety regulations and inspections.
In the world of sports, media pundits have questioned the safety measures in place for extreme sports, drawing parallels between the Titan disaster and the risks often taken in sports like Formula One and base jumping. This renewed focus on safety comes at a time when athletes are pushing the boundaries of human endurance in their pursuit of victory.
