A doctor has outlined the possible fate of what physically happened to the passengers on the Titan submersible when the vessel imploded deep below the surface.
According to Dr Dale Molé, who previously worked as a Navy doctor, the last few seconds for the five person crew would have been "quick and painless", with the expert saying: "It would have been so sudden, that they wouldn't even have known that there was a problem, or what happened to them. It's like being here one minute, and then the switch is turned off. You're alive one millisecond, and the next millisecond you're dead."
Condolences continue to pour in for the five who died during the expedition to to the original Titanic some 12,500 feet deep, The Daily Record reports.
Read More: 'I took a trip on doomed Titanic sub and heard chilling noise while under the sea'
Chief Executive of OceanGate Expeditions, the owners of the Titan submersible, was killed alongside two members of a prominent Pakistani family Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood. Hamish Harding, a British adventurer and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet also died.
The five-day rescue operation was concluded following the tragic news.
Doctor Molé said the five would not have been aware there was an issue or what would belie them..
"They would have been ripped to shreds. An implosion is when the wave of pressure is inward, whereas an explosion is when the pressure wave or the shock wave goes out from whatever the source of that is," he said.
The pressure chamber of the sub, where those aboard were held, was protected by a sealed pod as well as a pressurised gas system.
However, the carbon fibre cylinders of the pressure vessel may have gave way, leading to an implosion.
He said it would have been "violent and instant" as high pressure water rushed into and flooded the vessel, ripping apart the hull and crushing the five people onboard.
Chatting to the Daily Mail, he stated: "The pressure hull is the chamber where the occupants reside. It sounds as though they had reached the bottom when the pressure vessel imploded, and usually, when it gives way, it gives way all at once.
"When somebody stands on an empty soda can, it would support your weight, but then if you press on the sides, the can would collapse immediately.
"It's simply where the debris and fragments and everything else goes inward because of a strong external force. In this case, it was the ocean.""
The Titan left on its journey to the Titanic wreck on Sunday at 8am. It was then reported overdue on Sunday afternoon around 435 miles south of St John's, Newfoundland, Canada.
Debris was discovered around 1,600 feet (488) from the wreckage site, caused by a tragic implosion.
Tributes to those who lost their life and praise for the search teams who tried to locate and save them have poured in worldwide.
Brit Hamish Harding’s family said: ”He was one of a kind and we adored him... What he achieved in his lifetime was truly remarkable and if we can take any small consolation from this tragedy, it’s that we lost him doing what he loved.”
The Dawood family thanked rescuers, stating: “Their untiring efforts were a source of strength for us during this time, We are also indebted to our friends, family, colleagues and well-wishers from all over the world who stood by us during our need.”
