22 June 2023 , 21:10
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A journalist who nearly attended the Titanic submersible trip three years ago has revealed her concerns over safety and relief that her own trip was cancelled.
The Titanic submersible was taking five people to see the wreck of the Titanic in the Atlantic Ocean before it lost contact less than two hours into its dive on Sunday (18 June). US coastguards have now confirmed all those on board are dead after finding debris from the vessel.
In an immersive Channel 5 documentary, fronted by former BBC journalist Dan Walker before the sad news was confirmed, experts gave their view on what went wrong with the Titanic discovery mission. While a journalist, who was previously due to go on one of the submersible's maiden trip, has shared her relief the cancelled tour didn't take place.
(Channel 5)A journalist on the Channel 5 programme, Julie Cook, told presenter Dan Walker: "I echo what was said here that I'm still hopeful that they come back.
"Yes in 2021 I was approached to go on one of the maiden trips of Titan by a documentary company in America – one because I'm a journalist but two, because I'm the great granddaughter of a stoker from the Titanic.
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"So I said yes, as a journalist, I was scared as a person going on there. But in my job I said yes to it. But it didn't happen, It didn't happen for various reasons – post pandemic travel visa, that sort of thing.
"Now I'm incredibly relieved I didn't go on that trip – feeling incredibly worried about the people there."
Later in the show, it was confirmed by US firm OceanGate that all five crew members on board are believed to have died on board during the "trip of a lifetime" to see the Titanic wreckage.
In a press conference from Boston, a US admiral confirmed that debris from the submarine has been found as the deadline for the Titan's air supply running out passed at 1pm UK time.
The loss of oxygen and air pressure was described as "catastrophic" by the US coastguard in a press statement and all those on board are believed to be dead.
The five passengers on board were OceanGate Expeditions founder and CEO Stockton Rush, British billionaire Hamish Harding, expert French diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman.
Live: The Titanic Sub: Lost At Sea aired on Channel 5 on Thursday 22 June at 7pm.