…By Gift BADEWO for TDPel Media.
A tragedy has struck the exploration community with the loss of five people aboard the Titan submersible.
Leading figures from the community, including Richard Garriott de Cayeux, the President of the Explorers Club, have paid their respects, reflecting on the lives and aspirations of those who were lost.
Remembering the Adventurous Spirits
Garriott de Cayeux fondly remembered the club members Hamish Harding and Paul-Henri Nargeolet, who were among the casualties.
According to him, both men were driven by a passion to explore.
He also expressed sorrow at the loss of Stockton Rush, the CEO of OceanGate Expeditions, and Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman, whose love for exploration would have inevitably led them to join the Explorers Club.
Fellow Explorer’s Personal Tribute to Hamish Harding
Mark Hannaford, another member of the Explorers Club, paid a special tribute to Harding, painting a picture of a man who was a devoted father and a boundary pusher.
He shared a poignant text message he received from Harding just before the dive: “Diving to Titanic later today! If weather holds.”
Tragic Announcement and Tribute by the Explorers Club
In a heart-wrenching statement on Twitter, Garriott de Cayeux mourned the loss of their fellow explorers.
He thanked the US Coast Guard, US Navy, US Air Force, The White House, Members of Congress, Magellan Deep Water Specialists, partners, and collaborators for their efforts in the search and rescue mission.
He went on to describe Harding and Nargeolet as explorers who consistently sought to uncover the unknown and contribute to science for the betterment of mankind.
He expressed the club’s profound sadness and said their memories would continue to inspire them.
Reflecting on Loss and Remembering the Fallen
Hannaford, the CEO of World Extreme Medicine, reflected on the loss.
He highlighted Harding’s close relationship with his children and his constant drive to push boundaries and inspire others to do the same.
The shock and devastation felt by the families and the rescue teams are profound, and he conveyed his deepest condolences to them.