'Stroke Of Luck': UK Man Had Cancelled Going On Ill-fated Titanic Voyage, Citing Security Concerns
Chris Brown, a multimillionaire thrill-seeker and prominent figure in the digital marketing industry, recently made headlines after disclosing his decision to withdraw from the ill-fated Titanic submersible expedition. Brown, aged 61, had initially invested a substantial $10,000 deposit for the venture, joining his close friend Hamish Harding, the 58-year-old British billionaire who, along with four others, remains missing.
In the tapestry of life, some moments defy explanation, instances when the threads of fate intertwine in unexpected ways. Among these mysterious occurrences, one phenomenon stands out¡ªthe stroke of luck.
Chris Brown, a multimillionaire thrill-seeker and prominent figure in the digital marketing industry, recently made headlines after disclosing his decision to withdraw from the ill-fated Titanic submersible expedition.
Titanic Missing Sub
Brown, aged 61, had initially invested a substantial $10,000 deposit for the venture, joining his close friend Hamish Harding, the 58-year-old British billionaire who, along with four others, remains missing.
Hamish Harding: the British explorer missing at sea near the Titanic
Brown's apprehension arose when he discovered that OceanGate's 21-foot Titan submersible, intended for the daring expedition, was constructed using readily available off-the-shelf components.
He became increasingly concerned about the project's safety due to what he believed to be cutting corners in the sub's assembly.
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"I found out they used old scaffolding poles for the sub¡¯s ballast ¡ª and its controls were based on computer game-style controllers," the shocked would-be explorer told the U.K. paper.
OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, also one of the missing individuals, demonstrated the controller to a surprised CBS News reporter.
The controller in question is a gray device known as the Logitech G Wireless Gamepad F710. It is a third-party device released in 2010 and can now be purchased for $40 or even less. The video clip of the demonstration has gained significant attention online.
"Eventually, I emailed them and said, ¡®I¡¯m no longer able to go on this thing,'" Brown told the Sun, fearing OceanGate was "cutting too many corners."
"I asked for a refund after being less than convinced."
Brown mentioned that he and Harding decided to embark on the Titanic journey after enjoying a few drinks during a party on Sir Richard Branson's private Necker Island in 2016.
They each paid a 10% deposit for the trip, which at the time cost $100,000. However, the price has now increased to $250,000.
AP
"I was one of the first people to sign up for this trip with OceanGate while the submersible was being developed," Brown said of his aborted mission to see the wreckage of the Titanic 2.4 miles below sea level.
As he monitored the Titan's journey, he became increasingly concerned due to failed missions and the submersible's inability to reach its intended destinations.
The submersible has been missing since Sunday.
He "decided the risks were too high in this instance, even though I¡¯m not one to shy away from risk."
He finds himself in anticipation as rescuers work against time to locate the Titan.
The submersible's oxygen supply is expected to run out by Thursday morning. Recent developments on Tuesday revealed that a Canadian aircraft involved in the search detected periodic "banging" sounds every 30 minutes in the vicinity, raising hopes of locating the sub.
The sub also carries French Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, businessman Shahzada Dawood, and Dawood's 19-year-old son Sulaiman.
If the search is successful, it will be the most significant recovery mission ever undertaken.
"I feel really upset about Hamish," Brown told the Sun newspaper about the billionaire he initially encountered during a 2016 expedition to the South Pole, where space pioneer Buzz Aldrin accompanied him.
"One thing¡¯s for certain, Hamish isn¡¯t the sort of fellow to panic. He¡¯ll be extremely calm and processing plans, schemes, and ideas through his enormous brain," he predicted.
"I fully expect he¡¯ll be a calming influence on the others in the sub and will be giving them hope."
According to the latest information, Captain Jamie Frederick from the U.S. Coast Guard reported that Canadian planes picked up unidentified sounds on Tuesday and Wednesday. In light of this, he expressed the importance of maintaining hope.
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