Sebastian Harris was 13 years old when he made the journey to the wreck of the Titanic
The youngest person to discover the wreck of the Titanic is speaking out about the dangers of the journey after the tragedy of the sinking of the Titanic, revealing that he “passed out” during his voyage in 2005.
Sebastian Harris was 13 years old when he made the 12,500-foot dive to the site with his father, Titanic expedition leader G. Michael Harris, aboard a Russian Mir II submersible. He recounted the life-threatening moment he experienced while on the train.
Harris told The US Sun he lost consciousness during the journey – which lasted 12 hours – after “a minor safety issue. “Suddenly our oxygen levels started dropping and I lost consciousness as we were diving,” he said.
Fortunately, Harris’ father and his fellow passengers were unaffected – “otherwise it could have been fatal,” he noted – and he quickly regained consciousness. “Thankfully, we have an oxygen meter inside the submarine that shows a lower-than-normal oxygen level. So we tweaked it and then I got back into the game,” he recalls.
Related: ‘Titan’ Family Tragedy Averted Thanks to Son’s Warnings About Woman’s Safety
The record-breaking Titanic guest said these dangers “occurred frequently” during the voyage to find the wreck, and warned of the risks of the trip. “The certification and safety of these vehicles are very important,” he explains. “These activities are inherently dangerous.”
Recalling his dangerous moment in the submarine, he added, “A 13-year-old doesn’t really have a sense of his own morality, so I’m fortunate to be ignorant to a degree. but under different circumstances it can lead to tragedy. .”
On Thursday, it was announced that the submersible Titan, which disappeared on June 17, is believed to have exploded, claiming the lives of passengers Shahzada and Suleman Dawood, OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, pilot. Hamish Harding and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet.
Harris’ warning about the risks of the Titanic voyage comes after Las Vegas financier Jay Bloom and his son Sean Bloom told PEOPLE they refused to make the journey out of concern for their children’s safety. ship.
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“I told [my dad], ‘Dude, this submarine can’t survive going that deep in the ocean,'” Sean, 20, said. “I was worried because I didn’t think the submarine could withstand that kind of pressure and it wasn’t meant to go that far.”
Related: Hamish Harding Always ‘Wanted to See’ ‘Titanic’ — Risks Defying — Longtime Friend and Discoverer Says
He and his friend Simon – who were also concerned about Titan’s safety – began taking a much closer look at the actual submersible they would be on during a nearly three-mile dive into the icy ocean beyond. off the coast of Newfoundland.
“It was a small submarine, with five people crammed inside,” Sean said. “It just feels super unsafe. Something tells me this is not a move.”