US Tycoon reveals he turned down tickets for himself as well as his child on Titanic sub before Shahzada Dawood and his child Suleman took their spots and died (Details)

In texts between himself and OceanGate chief executive Stockton Rush, Jay Bloom revealed that he and his son were offered a "last minute price" of $150,000 a head (£120,000), a discount on the usual $250,000 (£195,000) fee. Mr. Bloom described his sadness at Mr. Rush's death and his grief that Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman, who was only 19, had taken their spots and perished, as well as French Navy veteran Paul-Henri

Mr. Bloom and his son Sean were asked by Stockton Rush to go on the Titanic dive in May, but both May dives were postponed due to weather, and the dive was put off until June 18, the day of the tragic trip.

He stated in a Facebook post:

'I expressed safety concerns and Stockton told me: “While there's obviously risk – it's way safer than flying in a helicopter or even scuba diving".

'He was absolutely convinced that it was safer than crossing the street. I am sure he really believed what he was saying. But he was very wrong'.

Texts between Mr. Rush had repeatedly tried to reassure Mr. Bloom about the safety of the Titan and heading to the Titanic's wreck.

He said his son was very worried about the risks after speaking with a friend. Mr. Rush said: 'I'm happy to have a video call with him. Curious what the uninformed would say the danger is and whether it's real or imagined'.

They discussed how the hull would deal with pressure, or even if it came into contact with a whale or squid.

Mr Rush said:

'While there's obviously risk it's way safer than flying in a helicopter or even scuba diving, There hasn't even been an injury in 35 years in non-military subs'

Titanic director James Cameron said he predicted Titan's implosion days before the debris from the missing submersible was found, calling the search a "prolonged charade"