Global Courant
Amid a frantic, ongoing search for an OceanGate submarine that went missing while diving for the Titanic, a scientist and former TV host who was trapped at the wreck site more than 20 years ago shares his story.
“We were just unlucky enough to get swept up in a very strong underwater current,” Michael Guillen told CTV News Channel’s Heather Butts on Wednesday. “It was totally unexpected.”
Guillen says that while he didn’t panic at the time, he was immediately aware that those on board were in a life-or-death situation, and as a “pro troubleshooter” he began trying to come up with a solution, but soon realized he couldn’t do anything – they were completely dependent on the pilot of the vehicle.
However, according to Guillen, the main difference between the incident he was part of in 2000 and today’s incident is that his team did not lose contact with the surface.
“Our pilot was in constant contact… with the mothership, the research vessel above us,” says Guillen.
After being trapped nearly 13,000 feet underground for nearly an hour, Guillen’s submarine was eventually able to resurface, but the hours it took him to resurface made for a “nail-biting experience that still haunts him.” physically and emotionally” exhausted when he talks about it.
Guillen also has a stark warning for anyone planning to visit the wreck site: “Respect Mother Nature… This is not a joyride.”
Click on the video at the top of this article for Guillen’s full story.
