NEW YORK - The wife of Stockton Rush, one of the five people aboard the missing submersible Titan in the North Atlantic, is a descendent of two famous Titanic victims, the New York Times reported on Wednesday, citing archival records and a historical society.
Wendy Rush is a great-great-granddaughter of Isidor and Ida Straus, a wealthy couple who owned Macy's department store and perished when the Titanic sank in 1912 after hitting an iceberg, the report said. The Straus' story of love and sacrifice inspired a scene in James Cameron's blockbuster movie "Titanic".
Wendy Rush is also the director of communication at OceanGate Expeditions, the company that operates the Titan submersible and organizes expeditions to visit the Titanic wreck site off Canada's coast.
Stockton Russ, who is the chief executive of OceanGate Expedition, was piloting the Titan on Sunday when it lost contact with the surface vessel as it descended to explore the Titanic. The submersible was carrying four other people, including two American researchers, a Canadian journalist, and a British engineer.
The search for the missing submersible has been hampered by rough weather conditions and technical difficulties. The Canadian Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy, and several private vessels have been involved in the rescue efforts. The last known location of the Titan was about 12 miles (19 km) from where the Titanic sank.
The Titan is a state-of-the-art submersible that can dive depths of 4,000 meters (13.123 feet) and withstand immense water pressure. It is equipped with emergency systems, such as oxygen tanks, life rafts, and locator beacons. However, it only has enough oxygen to last for about 96 hours.
The Titanic was a British passenger liner that sank on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York on April 15, 1912, after colliding with an iceberg. More than 1,500 people died in the disaster, which became one of the most famous maritime tragedies in history.
