A thrillseeker who signed up to be on the missing submersible has explained why he pulled out, detailing "major safety concerns".
Chris Brown, 61, had paid a deposit to be onboard the sub run by OceanGate, alongside his friend and currently missing British billionaire Hamish Harding.
Per The Sun, the multi-millionaire was due to be on the missing sub but decided to back out after he became concerned about the safety measures onboard.
As previously reported, the sub is operated by a controller similar to what is used on a games console, and this put immediate doubt into Brown's mind.
The game controller wasn't the only red flag that alerted Brown to what he believes were safety concerns, as further technical issues led to delays.
Brown said: "I found out they used old scaffolding poles for the sub’s ballast - and its controls were based on computer game-style controllers.
"If you’re trying to build your own submarine you could probably use old scaffold poles. But this was a commercial craft. Eventually, I emailed them and said I’m no longer able to go on this thing. I asked for a refund after being less than convinced," Brown concluded.
The craft has dimensions of 263 inches x 110 inches x 98 inches which is suitable to fit five people on board, and its walls are heated to combat the freezing temperatures of deep sea diving.
In 2022, the BBC filmed inside the OceanGate Titanic submersible that has gone missing during a dive to see the wreck. #Titanic #Submersible #Submarine #TitanicWreck #TouristSub #AtlanticOcean #BBCNews
Also on board is a toilet, that is given privacy by a small curtain and a music system that helps to drown out the sounds of people using the facilities, as reported by BBC News.
Passengers are advised to restrict their diet before boarding the vessel so they reduce the need to use the toilet on board.
At the time of writing, the US Coast Guard speculates that those onboard have around 30 hours of oxygen left, meaning that search and rescue teams face a race against the clock.
The pilot of the sub, named as Paul-Henry Nargeolet, is very experienced in deep-sea dives, which was confirmed by Dik Barton to Sky News.
Barton has completed 22 dives to the wreckage of the Titanic, and he believes that the vessel has either lost power or the depth has compromised its structural integrity.
"He [Nargeolet] is the kind of man who will keep them calm, but it's not easy in a tube at the bottom of the ocean," Barton said. "It's tragic. He is an extraordinary explorer and an incredible individual and he knows the wreck better than anybody I know."
An estimated 10,000 square miles have been searched, but there has been no sign of the sub which vanished on Sunday morning.
Our thoughts go out to those working tireless to locate the missing sub, and with the loved ones of those onboard.
