Missing British billionaire Hamish Harding holds a Guinness World Record for longest stay on the ocean floor.
The London-born adventurer set it up in 2021 after taking a submersible to the deepest place on earth, the Mariana Trench, traversing it for four hours and 15 minutes.
It was one of three world records set by the 58-year-old. He also set a value for the longest distance – three miles – traveled on the ocean floor. Its first appearance took place in 2019, with the fastest circumnavigation of the earth via the North and South Poles in a Gulfstream 650ER business jet. And last year he went into space.
Before leaving on the Titanic tourist submarine, which is now missing, Mr Harding told his social media followers: “A weather window has just opened and we will be attempting a dive tomorrow.”
“We started vaping yesterday from St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada and plan to start diving operations tomorrow morning around 4am.” We still have a lot of preparation and briefings to do before then.”
An employee of Mr Harding revealed last night that the billionaire had wanted to take part in the trip “for a long time” – adding that there was still “plenty of air” on board.
Missing British billionaire Hamish Harding (pictured) has set a Guinness World Record for longest stay on the seabed
Before leaving on the Titanic tourist submarine, which is now missing, Mr Harding told his social media followers: “A weather window has just opened and we will be attempting a dive tomorrow.” Pictured: Harding exploring the South Pole
The Action Aviation staffer said: “There is still a lot of air on board and there is still plenty of time for a rescue to be carried out and we are waiting for the authorities to inform us.”
“He’s the only member of Action Aviation on board and we’re just waiting for updates.” Hamish had been looking forward to this for a long time.”
The father of two is married to American citizen Linda Dunbar Szasz and has two sons, a fourteen-year-old boy named Giles.
The father, who is friends with astronaut Buzz Aldrin, recently said: “I used to read the Guinness World Records book regularly as a kid.”
“I always wondered how I got in there. I didn’t think I could do it. And I didn’t want to do something stupid like set a record for the number of ping-pong balls that bounced in a day or anything like that.”
As the frantic search for the Titanic submersible was underway yesterday, family members called for prayers for Mr Harding. The aviator, businessman and explorer are no strangers to dangerous expeditions. He told an interviewer in 2021 how his Challenger Deep submarine suffered a damaged engine while traveling to the “really spectacular” Mariana Trench, which lies seven miles below the surface of the Pacific Ocean.
He said: “The submarine has many safety features, including a four-day reserve of oxygen, water and emergency rations.”
“The only problem is that there is no other submarine that would be able to get there to rescue you.” Another will take three years to build. So having four days’ supply makes no real difference. “If something goes wrong, you don’t come back.”
An employee of Mr Harding revealed last night that the billionaire had wanted to take part in the trip “for a long time” – adding that there was still “plenty of air” on board
A social media post by Brian Szasz, Hamish Harding’s stepson
A submersible, with which people were supposed to visit the wreck of the Titanic, has disappeared with its crew on board in the Atlantic
This is the latest sighting of the Titan submersible, which was launched on Sunday. It can be seen in a photo shared by Mr Harding’s company
Mr Harding, who runs an aviation company in Dubai, also has the honor of taking the eldest man – 86-year-old lunar landing astronaut Aldrin – and the youngest, his 12-year-old son, to the South Pole He said: “Buzz is an old friend From me.” “We had always talked about going to the South Pole together and in 2016 we finally did it.”
An only child, Mr Harding was born in Hammersmith, London, in 1964 and has a degree in Science and Chemical Engineering from Cambridge University.
Last year, he was one of six astronauts who flew into space aboard the New Shepard rocket on Blue Origin’s fifth manned spaceflight.
Ahead of another trip – to the North Pole two months before his flight into space – he said: “People, especially as they get older, tend to give up on their dreams.”
“When I can think of something unusual, I just try to find ways to make it happen.”
A staff member of Mr Harding said: “He’s the only member of Action Aviation on board and we’re just waiting for updates.” Hamish had been looking forward to this for a long time.
OceanGate Expeditions is one of the few companies offering these tours. Tickets cost up to $250,000