A billionaire tycoon turned down the chance to go on the missing sub with his son, and a string of text messages with OceanGate's CEO has been revealed.
The tragic news came yesterday (June 22) that the missing submersible known as Titan is believed to have imploded, suggesting that the five people on board were killed.
The victims have been named Stockton Rush, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, Hamish Harding, and Paul-Henri Nargeolet.
Following the news, a billionaire tycoon from Las Vegas has taken to Facebook where he has shared text messages he exchanged with OceanGate CEO, and one of the deceased, Stockton Rush.
Jay Bloom, the billionaire in question, explained in his post that Rush had attempted to get him and his son to join them on a dive that was due to take place in May.
"In February Stockton asked me and my son, Sean, to go with him on the dive to Titanic in May. Both May dives were postponed due to weather and the dive got delayed until June 18th, the date of this trip," Bloom penned.
Attached to the Facebook post is a string of messages that appear to show that Rush downplayed the safety concerns that Bloom had.
After expressing interest, Bloom's text exchange revealed that his son got cold feet about joining the expedition after he became concerned about the vessel being attacked by deep-sea wildlife.
"I'm happy to have a video call with him," Rush replied. "Curious what the uninformed would say the danger is and whether it's real or imagined."
The OceanGate CEO branded the safety concerns "stupid", stating that no wildlife would attack the sub and that a sperm whale couldn't fit the vessel in its mouth.
He explained that there hasn't been a single incident in 35 years involving non-military subs, and even described the expedition as safer than "flying in a helicopter or scuba diving".
Bloom explained in his social media update that he last saw Rush in March, where the CEO further explained that the expedition was "safer than crossing the street".
Bloom and his son eventually decided against going on the expedition, and their seats went to Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman.
The Las Vegas billionaire made a point of offering his condolences to those who lost their lives on the Titan sub, and shared that he and his son will be "stopping to smell the roses".
"Tomorrow is never promised. Make the most of today," he concluded his Facebook post.
