The actor had considered an expedition to the Titanic wreck for a documentary
Ross Kemp turned down the opportunity to venture to the Titanic shipwreck on OceanGate’s Titan sub due to safety concerns about the vessel.
Five people aboard the OceanGate vessel were killed instantly in a “catastrophic implosion” during its dive to the Titanic on Sunday.
Since the confirmation of what happened to the sub, it has been revealed that Rush ignored a number of safety warnings raised by others in the deep diving community, including film director James Cameron.
Ross Kemp’s agent has now revealed the actor turned down a trip to see the Titanic on the doomed sub just last year.
Kemp, best known for his role on EastEnders and his TV documentaries, had apparently been keen to take part in mission to the shipwreck, as part of a programme to mark the 110th anniversary of the Titanic’s sinking.
But the production company in charge of the doc decided it would be too risky to let anyone get on the submersible, the Sun reports.
Kemp’s agent, InterTalent chairman Professor Jonathan Shalit, said: “Their team checked out this OceanGate submersible and pulled out of using it, as it was simply not considered safe or fit for purpose.
“They found other sub dives which have been safe and successful, but by that point Ross was so busy with all his TV shows that he was unable to commit the time.
“I am just relieved not to have had my post note in history as the agent who killed Ross Kemp.”
Discovery Channel explorer, Joshua Gates, also refused a seat on the Titan submersible due to “safety concerns.”
Communications were lost with the Titan one hour and 45 minutes after it set off, sparking a massive international search as emergency oxygen supplies were due to expire around midday Thursday.
The US Coast Guard later announced that debris had been found on the seabed, 1,600 feet (488 meters) from the bow of the Titanic, leaving experts to determine “a catastrophic implosion of the vehicle” occured, claiming the lives of everyone on board: British billionaire Hamish Harding, 58, OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, French navy veteran Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77, and Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his son Suleman, 19.
Their bodies may never be found.
Rear Admiral John Mauger, who has been leading the search for the Titan, confirmed the implosion on Thursday.
He said in a statement: “This is an incredibly unforgiving environment down there on the sea floor and the debris is consistent with a catastrophic implosion of the vessel.
“I can only imagine what this has been like for them and I hope that this discovery provides some solace during this difficult time.”
In a statement, OceanGate hailed the sub’s passengers as “true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world’s oceans”.
It added: “We grieve the loss of life and joy they brought to everyone they knew.”
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