(TheIndependentStar.com) – In a rather surprising demand, the relatives of a Titanic researcher who perished in last year’s catastrophic submersible implosion have initiated a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against the operator of the ill-fated vessel.
Paul-Henri Nargeolet, aged 77, was among five individuals aboard the Titan submersible when it catastrophically imploded while en route to the infamous Titanic wreck site in the depths of the North Atlantic in June 2023.
The family of the experienced underwater explorer has charged OceanGate, the owner of the submersible, with gross negligence, asserting that the vessel had a “troubled history” that contributed to its fate as “doomed,” The New York Post reports.
Furthermore, they allege that OceanGate did not reveal essential information regarding the vessel’s structural integrity and endurance prior to the expedition, as stated in the lawsuit filed in Washington state on Tuesday.
Legal representatives for his estate contend that the submersible’s notorious history was known, yet OceanGate neglected to communicate critical details about the vessel’s flaws and durability.
“The lawsuit further alleges that even though Nargeolet had been designated by OceanGate to be a member of the crew of the vessel, many of the particulars about the vessel’s flaws and shortcomings were not disclosed and were purposely concealed,” the attorneys indicated in a press release.
Nargeolet, affectionately referred to as “Mr. Titanic,” had previously undertaken over thirty-six expeditions to the Titanic’s resting place before joining the tragic journey aboard the OceanGate submersible.
The former commander in the French Navy was a trailblazer in the initial human expedition to the wreck site in 1987.
Nargeolet, who served as a director of underwater research for RMS Titanic, was a consummate professional and, according to his lawyers, would not have joined the Titan expedition had OceanGate been forthcoming about the risks.
His family has filed this lawsuit seeking clarity on “exactly how this happened, who all were involved, and how those involved could allow this to happen,” as articulated by their legal representatives.
The ill-starred Titan submersible embarked on its journey on the morning of June 18, 2023, but communication with its support vessel was severed approximately two hours later.
The remains of the wreck were subsequently located on the seafloor, nearly 984 feet away from the Titanic, after an extensive search and rescue operation that captivated a global audience.
The tragic implosion also claimed the lives of OceanGate CEO and co-founder Stockton Rush; British adventurer Hamish Harding; and Pakistani father-and-son duo, Shahzada and Suleman Dawood.
Copyright 2024, TheIndependentStar.com
