The representative of Delta North Senatorial District, Senator Ned Nwoko, has revealed that his friend, Hermish Harding, who is a pilot from the United Kingdom, invited him to join him for a ride on the ill-fated w submarine that exploded on July 18, 2023.
The submarine trip, for which each passenger paid $200,000, was heading down the ocean to see the debris of Titanic.
There were five persons on the submarine, including Harding, when it exploded.
Paying tribute to the British pilot with whom he has embarked on an expedition to Antarctica, Nwoko said Harding invited him to the adventure in the North Atlantic Ocean.
The explosion was said to have occurred about one hour 45 minutes into the two hours trip.
Nwoko, husband of actress Regina Daniels, who paid tributes to Harding on his Instagram page on Friday, said he missed the trip because of national assignment.
He wrote: “I have lost a very dear friend and business partner. Captain Hermish Harding.
“We both went on a very dangerous expedition to the Southpole Antarctica few years back.
“He was a gulf stream pilot who flew across the world in a record-breaking expedition by Guinness world record for circumnavigation of the earth some years ago.
“He descended into the Mariana.
“He also invited me on his space shuttle last year and this very Titan ill-fated adventure but I was tied down with national duties.
“Above all, he was a partner on the various researches into eradication of malaria in Africa project.
“He was very enthusiastic about it and always gave his support at every given opportunity.
“His last message to me was this last Sunday when he told me they were ready to dive to the Titanic if the weather permits.
“He loved adventure and challenges.
“My heart bleeds for his dear wife and kids who have become family friends over the years.
“We will surely miss his wealth of experience.”
Others on the submarine, which was operated by a United States of America-based company, OceanGate Expeditions, were the company’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Stockton Rush, who was piloting the Titan; 58-year-old Harding, a British billionaire and explorer; Pakistani-born businessman, Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his 19-year-old son, Suleman, who are both British citizens; and French oceanographer and renowned Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77, who had visited the Titanic wreck dozens of times.
