Remembering the Five Lives Lost in the OceanGate Titanic Submersible Disaster

The OceanGate Titan submersible, which imploded during its descent to the Titanic in June 2023, claimed the lives of five individuals. Among them were OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, the designer of the sub, and experienced Titanic diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet. The three passengers were Hamish Harding, Shahzada Dawood, and his son, Suleman.

Stockton Rush, a maverick and visionary, had a passion for exploration and the ocean. He once shared, “I don’t know if it was MacArthur, but somebody said, ‘You’re remembered for the rules you break,’ and that’s the fact. And there were a lot of rules out there that didn’t make engineering sense to me.” During the time David Pogue spent with him for a “Sunday Morning” story, he found Rush to be humorous, intelligent, and driven.

Rush’s dream was to be an astronaut, but he realized the ocean was the universe and the source of life. He believed in the vastness of the ocean and the importance of exploring it. Nargeolet, an experienced Titanic diver, shared the same sense of awe and amazement. When asked about his feelings, he replied, “Yeah. You know, I have to say, each dive is a new experience. I open my eyes like THAT when I’m in the sub!”

The loss of these five lives leaves behind a void, not just for their families and loved ones, but also for the world of deep-sea exploration. While it’s tempting to focus on the innovation and the thrill of the chase, the reality is that their absence is felt deeply. The families and loved ones are left with the pain of their loss and the memories of the dreams they were chasing.

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From left to right: Hamish Harding, Shahzada Dawood, Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Stockton Rush, and Suleman.

This tragic event serves as a reminder of the risks involved in exploration and the importance of safety measures. It also highlights the sacrifices made in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding of our world.

Story produced by Anthony Laudato. Editor: Emanuele Secci.

David Pogue is a six-time Emmy winner and a correspondent for “CBS Sunday Morning” since 2002. He is also a New York Times bestselling author, a five-time TED speaker, and the host of 20 NOVA science specials on PBS. For 13 years, he wrote a New York Times tech column every week, and for 10 years, a Scientific American column every month.

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First published on December 31, 2023 / 9:46 AM EST

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