Ross Kemp has spoken out about his next voyage aboard the Oceangate Submersible to examine the Titanic disaster.
The research ship, which was carrying five guests, went missing roughly two hours into the dive on Sunday, June 18, necessitating a large rescue mission.
The US Coast Guard regrettably confirmed several days later that the sub was most likely destroyed by a ‘catastrophic implosion,’ killing the lives of the crew.
Titan debris was later collected from the water, and it was announced that human remains were among the discoveries – and that Canadian authorities were investigating the tragedy.
Ross had been invited on board before the disaster, which killed British millionaire adventurer Hamish Harding, French Titanic specialist Paul-Henri Nargeolet, businessman Shahzada Dawood, his 19-year-old son Suleman, and OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush.
The former EastEnders star, 58, was eager to participate in the mission last year, but it was judged hazardous after an expert production firm conducted assessments and determined it would be too dangerous.
The documentary filmmaker came on Tuesday’s This Morning, when presenter Holly Willoughby, 42, questioned him about his near-tip on the sub for his docuseries.
‘I was invited,’ Ross confirmed. ‘And we had dialogue with the company in order for me to go down – actually this summer.
‘But it was decided by the people, not me, that it wasn’t the right thing to do.’
Holly asked: ‘Did you want to do it?’
Ross replied: ‘Of course I was going to do it. I love diving and I’m a qualified diver and I’m fascinated by the sea and I’m fascinated by wrecks.
‘However,right now all you care about are the families.’
Ross’ agent InterTalent chairman Professor Jonathan Shalit had previously said they pulled out of using the OceanGate craft because it was deemed to be unsafe ‘on every level’.
Professor Shalit told the PA news agency: ‘The production company, who are well known and renowned, looked into the sub and decided it was unsafe on every level and weren’t prepared to use it.
‘We were told “it is unsafe, we are not going” – that was a year ago.
‘It is deeply sad for the families who have suffered such a terrible loss.
‘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 thoroughly. By good fortune for us the checks had been done thoroughly.’
After the tail cone of the submersible was discovered roughly 1,600ft from the bow of the Titanic debris off the coast of Newfoundland, the US Coast Guard expressed its “deepest sympathies” to the families of the five sailors.
OceanGate said in a statement: ‘Our hearts are with these five souls and every member of their families during this tragic time. We grieve the loss of life and joy they brought to everyone they knew.’
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV.
Source My Celebrity Life.
