Despite recent reports that the US Coast Guard believes that the missing sub has run out of oxygen, an expert believes that there is a chance those onboard might still be alive.
The sub, known as Titan, has been missing since June 18 after descending to visit the wreck of the Titanic, and fears have steadily increased for the welfare of those onboard.
As previously reported, predictions made by the US Coast Guard based on the 96 hours worth of oxygen that the Titan holds against the time they descended on Sunday morning have led rescuers to believe that they have run out of oxygen.
Despite this, rescuers are remaining hopeful and keeping the search active as the loved ones of those onboard eagerly await positive news.
Guillermo Sohnlein, the co-founder of OceanGate, believes that those onboard have the ability to live longer than the estimated timeframe of their oxygen.
Speaking to Insider, he said: "Today will be a critical day in this search and rescue mission, as the sub's life support supplies are starting to run low. I'm certain that Stockton and the rest of the crew realized days ago that the best thing they can do to ensure their rescue is to extend the limits of those supplies by relaxing as much as possible."
Sohnlein went on: "I firmly believe that the time window available for their rescue is longer than what most people think. I continue to hold out hope for my friend and the rest of the crew."
Despite the chances of a successful rescue mission dwindling, those close to the five men on board will remain hopeful until told otherwise.
Those on board have been named British billionaire Hamish Harding, businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman, alongside the two crew members Stockton Rush, founder, and chief executive officer of OceanGate, and French pilot Paul-Henry Nargeolet.
A debris field has been discovered by a remotely operated vehicle near the Titanic wreck and experts are currently evaluating the information that this has given them, per Sky News.
With this potentially important discovery and the eyes of the world on the Northern Atlantic, the US Coast Guard will be holding a press conference at 03:00PM local time (07:00PM GMT).
Our thoughts remain with those onboard and their loved ones, and we continue to hope for a positive outcome after these heartbreaking few days.