OceanGate Tragedy: One Year Later

Last 18 June 2023, my co-founder and friend, Stockton Rush, was killed in a tragic accident at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. One year later, we are all still coping with the loss.

The implosion of my old company’s research submersible near the wreck of the Titanic not only took the lives of the five explorers in its crew, but the week-long search and rescue effort became a global media frenzy.?

Grappling with our shock and grief in the public eye was bad enough, but those of us close to the crew were also subjected to a massive negative narrative. I believe this was caused by a very active “vocal minority” overtaking a stunned and devastated “silent majority” via a megaphone provided by the mass media and fueled further by the unrelenting social media.

Unbelievably, today marks the anniversary of the accident, and everyone I know in the extended OceanGate family is still suffering from the pain.

I have spent every one of the past 365 days thinking about Stockton and his family, the other four crew members and their families, the current and former OceanGate employees, and all of the Mission Specialists and other guests who joined the various OceanGate expeditions–Titanic and otherwise–over the company’s 14-year history. Every one of them suffered a terrible loss, and every one of them has been coping with that loss in their own private way.

This week I’m sure there will be more media attention (it already started two weeks ago), so you will all certainly see, hear, and read more about this accident. I truly respect everyone’s right to have their own opinion about what happened.?

All I ask is that we keep in mind that many many human beings were deeply affected by this tragedy.?

Five explorers lost their lives. Four families lost loved ones, most without the possibility of a proper memorial service for fear of media scrutiny. Dozens of OceanGate employees lost their jobs and abilities to support their families, while at the same time facing the wrath of an uneducated general public. Thousands of members of the global ocean exploration community lost five colleagues and have spent the past year trying to maintain the viability of their own expeditions, projects, businesses, and careers.

Human beings learn best from failures and grow stronger through adversity. As we navigate this anniversary week, I hope we will all exhibit respect and empathy.

Thank you.