Former Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan has slammed “puerile abuse” aimed at those on the Titan submersible when it went missing on Sunday.
The vessel, which was carrying its pilot and four passengers, lost contact with its mothership off the coast of Newfoundland in Canada at around 9.45am. On Thursday a “debris field” was located and those on board were considered lost, said Titan’s owners OceanGate.
Piloted by the firm’s CEO Stockton Rush, Titan was transporting British billionaire Hamish Harding, renowned French diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman to the Titanic wreckage.
Officials are now working on the assumption the vessel imploded under the surface, with parts of the submersible discovered in the water on Thursday.
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Morgan has now criticised commenters online, saying we live in “spiteful times”. It comes after social media users have remarked on the cost of the Titanic expedition.
Speaking on Piers Morgan Uncensored, the presenter said: “Why would your mind turn to being envious of money they’ve made, or thinking this is about taxation? It’s nothing to do with tax, and nothing to do with your pathetic jealousies.
“We used to glorify explorers, we used to revel in their adventure and celebrate them. I hope these five adventurers somehow survive to tell their stories and then plan their next adventure.”
Morgan went on to describe comments about the group’s wealth as “pathetic student politics”.
The US Coast Guard yesterday confirmed that debris discovered was from the vessel, adding that it is “consistent with the catastrophic loss of the pressure cabin”.
Rear Admiral John Mauger of the US Coast Guard, who is leading the search for Titan, added: “Upon this determination, we immediately notified the families”.
