OceanGate locals are ‘disheartened’ that the tragedy has become a meme.
The Titan sub, built by OceanGate Expeditions, had initially been exploring the waters around the Titanic shipwreck when the vessel reportedly imploded.
Now, those who live and work close to the business in Everett, Washington, are expressing their devastation at the tragic accident and how the internet has reacted.
On Sunday (June 18), the Titan lost contact with its mothership during the trip off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada.
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Those investigating, including the US Coast Guard, believed the vessel had about 96 hours’ worth of oxygen board – sparking a desperate search for sub.
It included five passengers: British billionaire Hamish Harding, experienced diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet, OceanGate’s CEO Stockton Rush and Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year son, Suleman Dawood.
Rescue teams believe that the air supply ran out around 1pm BTS (June 22), before later discovering debris – leading experts to believe the sub suffered a ‘catastrophic implosion’ and killing those on board.
Despite calls for privacy from OceanGate and the victims’ families, the disaster has gone on to generate multiple memes on social media.
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In the wake of the tragic incident, Everett locals - where the business is based - have expressed their horror at how the internet has reacted.
Corie Reed who runs a café next to the business has said that she and others feel ‘very disheartened’ after seeing the memes.
Seas the Day Café had often hosted OceanGate’s CEO Stockton Rush, with many of his co-workers and staff also frequenting the small business.
Reed recalled being ‘panicked’ seeing those who knew the businessman become increasingly concerned for his welfare.
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She told Insider. "Our first reaction was panic, we started texting people we knew to see who was on it because we knew so many of them."
As the news broke though, the café owner said that locals felt ‘downtrodden’ after seeing the reaction online.
Reed told the outlet: “It's been the only topic of discussion for the last few days and a lot of regulars are very disheartened by all the memes and jokes and things that are going around because these are people we know and talk to everyday."
She added: "There are a lot of jokes about them being millionaires, but they're also just people with families."
Topics: Titanic, World News, US News