Ross Kemp turned down a filming journey to the Titanic wreck on an OceanGate submersible after it was deemed unsafe, his agent has revealed.
The former EastEnders star turned documentary maker was planning to participate within the deep diving mission final yr for a programme to mark the a hundred and tenth anniversary of the sinking of the ill-fated liner.
But an knowledgeable manufacturing firm behind the documentary determined it was too dangerous to board the submersible after finishing up its personal checks.
Kemp’s agent, InterTalent chairman Jonathan Shalit, mentioned the manufacturing firm deemed the vessel to be unsafe “on every level”.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
How protected was Titan?
On Thursday, the US Coast Guard mentioned OceanGate’s Titan submersible had imploded throughout a visit to the Titanic wreck, killing all five people onboard.
“We were told ‘it is unsafe, we are not going’ – that was a year ago,” Mr Shalit mentioned.
“It is deeply sad for the families who have suffered such a terrible loss.”
The Titan submersible in June 2021. Pic: OceanGate Expeditions through AP
He added: “I am relieved that Ross did not participate but I am obviously reassured by the professionalism of those companies we were working with that they didn’t suggest that he go on the submarine.
“The lesson to be learnt is do your checks completely. By luck for us, the checks had been accomplished completely.”
On Thursday, Rear Admiral John Mauger – who led the seek for the lacking submersible – confirmed a remotely-operated car had found the nostril cone of the misplaced submersible about 487m (1,600ft) from the bow of the Titanic on the seafloor.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
‘I supply my deepest condolences’
Further particles was discovered close by, with Rear Admiral Mauger including: “In consultation with experts from within unified command, the debris is consistent with the catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber.”
British billionaire Hamish Harding, UK-Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, his 19-year-old son Suleman Dawood, OceanGate founder Stockton Rush and French nationwide Paul-Henri Nargeolet had been on board.
Read extra:
What happened to the Titan
Billionaire was offered last minute-price tickets for doomed voyage
Five men on board described as ‘true explorers’ – here are their stories
(Clockwise from prime left) Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Stockton Rush, Hamish Harding, Suleman Dawood and his father Shahzada Dawood
Veteran explorer Josh Gates, who hosts Expedition Unknown on Discovery+, additionally revealed he turned down the prospect to movie on the doomed Titan submersible.
He tweeted that he had rejected the chance to movie in 2021 as a result of the vessel “did not perform well” throughout a take a look at dive.
He wrote: “Ultimately, I walked away from a huge opportunity to film Titanic due to my safety concerns with the OceanGate platform.
“There’s extra to the historical past and design of Titan that has not been made public – a lot of it regarding.”
On Friday, one among OceanGate’s co-founder’s, Guillermo Sohnlein, hit again at comments made by Titanic film director and ocean explorer James Cameron in regards to the Titan submersible’s security.
Mr Sohnlein advised Times Radio there had been a “rigorous test programme”.
He mentioned: “I was involved in the early phases of the overall development programme during our predecessor subs to Titan, and I know from firsthand experience that we were extremely committed to safety, and risk mitigation was a key part of the company culture.”
Content Source: news.sky.com
