The five people on board the Titan vessel would have known their vessel was fatally damaged for at least one minute before its destruction, an expert has claimed.
The submersible, built and operated by OceanGate, imploded during its descent to explore the wreckage of the Titanic - claiming the lives of all on board, including three Britons. Submarine expert José Luis Martín has shed light on the possible sequence of events leading to the implosion.
According to Mirror Online, the Mr Martin believes that the Titan submersible fell vertically like an arrow, without any control, for at least 2,953 feet (900 meters). The passengers likely lost their balance during those final moments and may have fallen on top of each other. Martín compared the implosion to puncturing a balloon, suggesting that the submersible would have popped like a balloon due to the sudden increase in pressure.
Martín told Spanish news outlet Nius: "The submersible was descending smoothly until it reached an altitude of approximately 5,577 feet (1,700 meters). At that point, an electrical failure occurred, leaving it without an engine and propulsion. This loss of communication with the Polar Prince, the support vessel, marked a turning point in the tragic event."
As the submersible changed position and fell vertically, the weight of the passengers, estimated to be around 400 kilograms, compromised the stability of the submersible. Martín described the horrifying scene, stating, "The passengers likely rushed and crowded on top of each other, experiencing horror, fear, and agony. The resistant hull of the submersible faced a sudden increase in pressure as it descended into the depths of the ocean, leading to a strong compression of the container where the tourists and pilot were located."
In those moments of total darkness, the passengers would have realised the dire situation they were in. Martín described it as a difficult experience to comprehend, as they were aware of their fate in the pitch-black depths of the ocean. He further added, "After approximately 48 seconds to one minute, the implosion occurred, resulting in instantaneous death for the victims."
The victims were British citizens Hamish Harding, Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman Dawood, as well as French explorer Paul Henri-Nargeolet and Stockton Rush, the CEO of OceanGate,
The tragedy unfolded on the morning of June 18 while the submersible was attempting to view the wreckage of the Titanic. The submersible lost contact with the mothership about 105 minutes into its dive. A frantic search was launched, involving crews from multiple countries, in the hopes of finding the submersible intact but immobile. Unfortunately, the victims' deaths were confirmed by the US Coast Guard four days later.
The investigation into the implosion is still ongoing, and the recovery of the submersible from the ocean floor has provided valuable evidence.
