Hamish Harding's good friend Victor Vescovo warned him earlier than doomed Titan voyage | World News

Hamish Harding’s longtime good friend had warned him to not get on the submersible earlier than the ill-fated voyage, it has been revealed. Fellow explorer Victor Vescovo mentioned that it was Hamish’s dream to go on the journey, regardless that he knew in regards to the dangers.

"Hamish requested to go to the Titanic in my submersible, and that’s not one thing I do, plus it might value thousands and thousands of dollars. When Stockton was in a position to reach taking individuals down in his, Hamish turned set on it. I talked to Hamish about it and I instructed him he should not get in that rattling sub... it was solely a matter of time earlier than they [OceanGate] killed any person. However Hamish actually, actually wished to go to the Titanic and that was the one alternative ... now it is 'rattling, why did not I increase extra fuss, ought to I've been extra aggressive?'" Victor instructed the Sunday Occasions.

"I had instructed Hamish my vital considerations about OceanGate's design and the security and their operations," he continued. "I feel he in all probability considered it when diving with me, however then he satisfied himself they have been enhancing and possibly that individuals like me have been too conservative or that it was definitely worth the threat. He determined to roll the cube. I used to be stunned Hamish went. He texted me from the ship saying ‘I’m taking place tomorrow to Titanic’. The perspective I had was ‘OK, I've mentioned my piece - that was the final textual content..."

All of the passengers have been killed in a catastrophic implosion – an underwater implosion that led to the vessel instantly collapsing. The Titan submersible is owned by the corporate OceanGate. The 5 deceased passengers have been OceanGate Expeditions CEO Stockton Rush, British billionaire Hamish Harding, French diver Paul Henry Nargeolet, and Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son, Suleman.

“Like me, he was a fellow jet pilot,” Victor mentioned of Hamish, in keeping with the information outlet PEOPLE. “In his soul, he was an explorer and an adventurer, however with an enthralling British character. He was all the time smiling, all the time had a optimistic perspective. However he additionally had that pilot sensibility of calm and sort of unflappableness, which you sort of need to be as a jet pilot.”

Following the tragedy, Victor wrote in a tweet, “This has been a tough week for the submersible neighborhood. Deep ocean diving may be very protected when business normal certifications and procedures are adopted. I'll miss my good associates PH Nargeolet, who I labored with carefully, and Hamish Harding, my good friend in sea and house.”

The Transportation Security Board of Canada is now launching an investigation into the implosion of the Titan, CNN has reported. The Nationwide Transportation Security Board has additionally mentioned that the US Coast Guard will lead the investigation into the incident.