Family of ‘Titanic Gentleman’ Files Lawsuit After Titan Submarine Implosion
French Explorer’s Family Seeks $50 Million Compensation from Titan Submarine Operator
The family of renowned French deep-sea explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet has filed a lawsuit against the operators of the Titan submarine, seeking $50 million in damages following the tragic implosion that claimed his life and four others.
On August 8, AFP reported that the lawsuit targets OceanGate Expeditions, the company based in Everett, Washington, which owned the ill-fated Titan submarine. The lawsuit accuses OceanGate of gross negligence leading to the disaster. Nargeolet, affectionately known as the “Titanic Gentleman,” lost his life in the incident last year at the age of 77.
In addition to Nargeolet, the catastrophic implosion also resulted in the deaths of OceanGate’s founder and CEO, Stockton Rush (61), British billionaire Hamish Harding (59), Pakistani-born British billionaire Shahzada Dawood (48), and his 19-year-old son, Suleman.
The Titan submarine went missing on June 18, 2023, while descending to the Titanic wreckage at a depth of 3,800 meters. On June 22, search teams discovered debris, confirming that the Titan had imploded.
Attorney Tony Buzbee, representing the plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed in Seattle, Washington, highlighted “serious issues” with the Titan submarine. Buzbee stated, “Through this lawsuit, we hope to provide answers to the family about exactly how this happened, who was involved, and how those responsible allowed this to occur.”
Another attorney for the family, Matt Shaffer, accused Stockton Rush of failing to be transparent with the crew and passengers about known dangers, placing them in peril without their knowledge.
OceanGate Expeditions ceased operations two weeks after the disaster. The company had charged $250,000 per seat on the Titan submarine. Concerns about the company’s safety practices came to light following the incident.
The Titanic, which struck an iceberg and sank in 1912 during its maiden voyage from England to the United States, claimed the lives of over 1,500 of the 2,224 passengers and crew onboard. The wreck was discovered in 1985 and has since become a point of fascination for maritime experts and underwater tourists alike.
