Families of Hamish Harding and Titan sub victims pay touching tributes

Families of the five people who died after the Titan submersible vessel exploring the Titanic shipwreck imploded have paid tributes to their loved ones.

In a tweet, Dubai-based British billionaire Hamish Harding's family described him as "a passionate explorer" who lived life "for the next adventure".

"Today, we are united in grief with the other families who have also lost their loved ones on the Titan submersible," read the tweet by Action Aviation on behalf of the company and family of Harding.

It also reiterated the family's gratitude for the international search efforts.

Harding is survived by his wife and two sons.

pic.twitter.com/shZrKcKUwL

— Action Aviation (@actionaviation) June 22, 2023

The four others were Pakistani-born businessman Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his 19-year-old son, Suleman, French oceanographer and renowned Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77, and OceanGate's founder and chief executive officer, Stockton Rush, who was piloting the Titan.

The Dawood family also paid their respects on the Facebook page of their non-profit organisation, The Dawood Foundation.

"The immense love and support we receive continues to help us to endure this unimagineable loss," they said, adding, "We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the other passengers on the Titan submersible."

Speaking to CNN, Paul-Henri Nargeolet's step-son remembered the 77-year-old French Explorer fondly, recalling a memory of Nargeolet and his mother making it to his college graduation after a cancelled flight.

"They hop into their small, blue Mini Cooper and they drive 16 hours across the country from Connecticut to Chicago, drive through the night. I am quite certain that he did a lot of the driving. They showed up with one hour to spare for graduation. They made it there. At that time, my mom was very sick of cancer and meant so much to me that she could be there for that moment. That is something I will never forget about him."

In a touching statement, OceanGate said "our hearts are with these five souls and every member of their families during this tragic time. We grieve the loss of life and joy they brought to everyone they knew".

They described the men as "true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world's oceans".