Titanic sub victim Hamish Harding’s sons pay tribute to the ‘best father’ who they say ‘constantly sought to be the best man he could be’

• Mr Harding was hailed for hailed being a ‘tenacious, hard working businessman’ 

The sons of British billionaire Hamish Harding have paid tribute to the ‘best father’ who they say ‘constantly sought to be the best man he could be’.

Mr Harding, 58, was among the five adventurers on board the OceanGate Expeditions submersible that lost contact with its mothership as it reached the site of the Titanic wreckage early Sunday morning. 

The US Coast Guard said Thursday that all five people aboard the submersible had died after the vessel suffered a ‘catastrophic implosion.’ 

One of Mr Harding’s sons, who was not named on the statement issued through Action Aviation, has hailed the billionaire for being a ‘tenacious, hard working businessman’ and for having ‘inspired me more than anyone will ever know’.

The adventurer and wife Linda have two sons, Rory and Giles. Mr Harding is also the stepfather to her two kids from a previous relationship, daughter Laurena and Brian.

The sons of British billionaire Hamish Harding (pictured) have paid tribute to the ‘best father’ who they say ‘constantly sought to be the best man he could be’

Mr Harding, 58, was among the five adventurers on board the OceanGate Expeditions submersible (pictured) that lost contact with its mothership as it reached the site of the Titanic wreckage early Sunday morning. The US Coast Guard said Thursday that all five people aboard the submersible had died after the vessel suffered a ‘catastrophic implosion

His two sons, who were not named on either statement issued through the sales and operations company, said Mr Harding was the ‘best father I could have ever asked for’.

One said: ‘My dad was a tenacious, hardworking businessman – but most importantly he was the best father I could have ever asked for.

‘He inspired me more than anyone will ever know, taught me things I’ll never forget, and he meant everything to me.

‘Anyone who ever met my dad will praise his humorous personality, his sheer work ethic, and his constant generosity.

‘My life will be a success if I’m even half the man he is. My dad is gone but I will never forget him.’

Mr Harding’s second son, who was also not named in the statement issued by Action Aviation, said he was a ‘loving father, family man and a determined and tireless businessman’.

He said: ‘In all of these areas, he constantly sought to be the best man he could be and did nothing halfway.

‘Constantly full of wisdom and life advice to bestow, he made my brother and I into the people we are today.

The billionaire’s two sons said Mr Harding (pictured) was the ‘best father I could have ever asked for’ and hailed him as a ‘tenacious, hardworking businessman’

Canadian authorities on Saturday began a probe into the implosion of the Titan submersible. Pictured: Canadian Coast Guard vessel Terry Fox (left), and Canadian vessel Skandi Vinland (right), return to St John’s Port in Newfoundland, Canada, after supporting the search and rescue operation for the Titan submersible

‘He was an energetic and charismatic man who by the sheer weight of his personality lifted up and supported everyone around him.

‘His tragic loss will be mourned not only by myself and my family, but everyone who had the pleasure to meet him.

‘The world is so much less without his larger-than-life presence and his optimistic spirit.’

The heartfelt tributes come as Canadian authorities on Saturday began a probe into the implosion of the Titan submersible.

‘Our mandate is to find out what happened and why and to find out what needs to change to reduce the chance or the risk of such occurrences in the future,’ said Transportation Safety Board (TSB) chair Kathy Fox.

‘We know everybody wants answers, particularly the families and the public,’ she told reporters in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Th full probe could take between 18 months to two years.

TSB investigators on Saturday boarded the Canadian-flagged Polar Price cargo ship, which had set sail from St. John’s last weekend to bring the ill-fated Titan to its launch point in the north Atlantic.

The Transportation Safety Board routinely probes air, rail, marine and pipeline accidents with the aim of improving transportation safety. It does not assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.

The US Coast Guard said Thursday that all five people aboard the submersible had died after the vessel suffered a ‘catastrophic implosion.’

Five roses with the names of the passengers of the Titan are seen placed near the waterfront on Saturday

A debris field was found on the seafloor, 1,600 feet (500 meters) from the bow of the Titanic.

Meanwhile, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) was looking into whether any criminal laws had been broken in the chain of events that led to the deaths of the Titan adventurers.

The investigators’ job is to determine ‘whether or not a full investigation by the RCMP is warranted,’ said Newfoundland and Labrador Superintendent Kent Osmond.

‘Such an investigation will proceed only if our examination of circumstances indicate criminal federal or provincial laws may possibly have been broken.’

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