Those who refused a trip on OceanGate’s submersible are no doubt feeling more and more grateful for their decision following the Titan vessel’s catastrophic implosion.
By now you know that the sub vanished on Sunday, leaving the status of its five passengers – Hamish Harding, Shahzada Dawood, Suleman Dawood, Paul-Henri Nargeolet, and OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush – unknown for several days until debris was found on the ocean floor. It was then announced that the submersible imploded on the way down to the Titanic shipwreck site, leaving the five men dead.
As this tragedy has made headlines over the past week, several people have come forward with their personal experiences with OceanGate – including stories about how they turned down trips over some serious concerns. And now, we have another account of someone who was meant to take a journey in the OceanGate sub but pulled out at the last minute due to safety issues.
Related: Legal Expert Says Titan Sub Victims’ Families Could Still Sue Despite Waiver!
According to The Sun on Friday, British TV presenter and actor Ross Kemp – who has been known as a daredevil documentary maker – was supposed to make a show in 2022 to mark the 110th anniversary of the Titanic sinking. It would have shown him traveling down to the wreckage in one of OceanGate’s subs. However, Ross ended up rejecting the plan. Why? His agent Jonathan Shalit claimed to Dailymail.com that the production company behind the project quickly determined that the vessel was “unsafe on every level” after completing its own check! He then further explained to The Sun:
“Their team checked out this OceanGate submersible and pulled out of using it, as it was simply not considered safe or fit for purpose. They found other sub dives which have been safe and successful, but by that point Ross was so busy with all his TV shows that he was unable to commit the time. I am just relieved not to have had my post note in history as the agent who killed Ross Kemp.”
Another cause for the production worries with OceanGate’s subs? Ross previously has dived without submersibles on two shows in the past – which required him to get a deep sea diving certificate. But when asked about training for the OceanGate submersible, a TV insider told The Sun:
“Ross had to get a deep sea diving certificate so he could dive at up to 40 metres, which requires a lot of teaching and learning. But when provisional enquiries were made with OceanGate, the question was asked: ‘How much training does he need to go down in the submersible to the Titanic?’ And the answer was: ‘None at all.’”
What?! The source added:
“The company was looked at initially because they were a well-known organisation, but after [production company] Atlantic started asking questions, any plans quickly unravelled.”
This is some very concerning alleged details coming out about OceanGate. Reactions, Perezcious readers? Let us know in the comments below.
[Image via OceanGate/YouTube, LooseWomen/YouTube]
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