AN Irish diver currently on board the ship that launched a missing submarine near the Titanic wreck has praised the “truly astonishing” rescue effort underway.
Rory Golden owns Flagship Scuba in Dublin and has previously visited the Titanic site on two occasions, including with the former BBC Northern Ireland journalist Mike McKimm.
In May, he joined the OceanGate Expeditions vessel in Newfoundland before it travelled with the submarine and passengers towards the Titanic site.
Posting an update on social media, he said the ship was now coordinating with the rescue effort to find a British billionaire and four others.
“I'm OK. We are all focused on board here for our friends,” he said.
“Please do not ask for their names, as this is most insensitive. Please do not speculate.
"I have seen some comments already on social media that are highly inappropriate and insensitive.”
Thanking those that had been trying to reach him, he added: “We have a situation that is now the part of a major Search and Rescue effort, being undertaken by major agencies.
"That is where our focus is right now.
“The reaction and offers of help globally is truly astonishing, and only goes to show the real goodness in people at a time like this….thank you all, and think positive. We are.”
The US Coast Guard is leading the search for the small craft, named Titan, which was reported overdue about 435 miles south of St John’s in Newfoundland, Canada, on Sunday evening.
Hamish Harding, the billionaire chairman of the private plane firm Action Aviation, is among those on board.
The Titanic wreck is around 2.4 miles below the surface, with OceanGate Expeditions taking visitors there since 2021.
Over the weekend, Mr Harding had said he was “proud to finally announce” he would be aboard the submarine, but said that because of the “worst winter in Newfoundland in 40 years, this mission is likely to be the first and only manned mission to the Titanic in 2023”.
Read More
- Search underway for missing Titanic submersible: What we know so far
- Who is missing British billionaire Hamish Harding?
- Rescuers race against time to find submersible visiting Titanic wreck
He added that the trip had been approved after a weather window had opened up.
Last June, he had also travelled to space as a tourist with fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin company.
Also on board was Shahzada Dawood and his son Sulaiman Dawood.
A statement from their family said: “We are very grateful for the concern being shown by our colleagues and friends and would like to request everyone to pray for their safety while granting the family privacy at this time.
“The family is well looked after and are praying to Allah for the safe return of their family members.”
Mr Dawood is the vice chairman of the Pakistani conglomerate Engro Corporation.
French submersible pilot Paul-Henry Nargeolet and chief executive and founder of OceanGate Expeditions Stockton Rush are also reported to be on board.
On Monday, the US Coastguard said they were doing everything possible to find the missing vessel.
This includes a search 900 miles east of Cape Cod in collaboration with the Canadian armed forces and commercial vessels in the area.
Rescuers now have until Thursday before oxygen runs out on the vessel.
It is reported that a distress signal or ping has been sent out from the submarine, and that the 6.6m craft is capable of diving to depths of 4,000m "with a comfortable safety margin,” according to the operator OceanGate.
Read more
Rescuers race against time to find submersible visiting Titanic wreck
