The stepson of a British billionaire explorer has confirmed that his stepfather, Hamish Harding, was in fact on board the Titanic submersible which has gone missing in the Atlantic.
Brian Szasz, stepson of Hamish Harding wrote on Facebook : "Thoughts and prayers for my Mom and Hamish Harding." He added: "Hamish Harding, my stepfather, has gone missing on submarine thoughts and prayers."
He later deleted the posts, putting up a post in their place saying: "For privacy, my mom asked me to delete all related posts thanks for the support."
Billionaire Harding is no stranger to extreme adventures. He has been to the South Pole twice, into space on Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin Rocket and on a dive to the Challenger Deep - the deepest place on Earth at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.
It has yet to be officially confirmed who is was on the submersible, but he previously said he was part of those set for the ocean floor.
The crew on board the missing submersible had made no contact with the support crew for more than eight hours. Usually, signals would be sent to the mother ship every 15 minutes.
The crew, reported lost this morning, June 19, has an oxygen supply which will last 96 hours. If the submersible's oxygen supply has not been damaged, the crew have until around 6am UK time on Thursday, June 22, until it runs out.
Up to five people, including Mr Harding, are unaccounted for as the US Coastguard race to find the vessel. Private firm OceanGate Expeditions have confirmed in a statement it owns the missing submersible.
The statement read: "We are exploring and mobilising all options to bring the crew back safely. Our entire focus is on the crewmembers in the submersible and their families.
"We are deeply thankful for the extensive assistance we have received from several government agencies and deep sea companies in our efforts to reestablish contact with the submersible. We are working toward the safe return of the crewmembers."
The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, said the vessel was reported overdue around 9.13pm on Sunday, about 435 miles south of St John’s, Newfoundland.
Lt. Cmdr. Len Hickey said a Canadian Coast Guard vessel and military aircraft were assisting the search effort, which was being led by the US Coast Guard in Boston.
An archived version of OceanGate’s website explains what passengers can expect on the $250,000 (£195,000) trip.
“Follow in Jacques Cousteau’s footsteps and become an underwater explorer - beginning with a dive to the wreck of the RMS Titanic. This is your chance to step outside of everyday life and discover something truly extraordinary,” the website read.
“Become one of the few to see the Titanic with your own eyes.”
The eight-day expedition is based out of St John’s, Newfoundland beginning with a 400-nautical-mile journey to the wreck site.
There, up to five people, including a pilot, a “content expert” and three paying passengers, board the submersible named “Titan” and descend to the bottom of the ocean.
“Once the submersible is launched, you will begin to see alien-like lifeforms whizz by the viewport as you sink deeper and deeper into the ocean. The descent takes approximately two hours but it feels like the blink of an eye,” the website adds.
