Lahey, whose company is a leading manufacturer and has been involved in the creation and testing of 60 human-rated submersibles, says he warned Nargeolet, 77, before he decided to join the doomed dive last week.
“I told PH that going out there in some way sanctioned this operation. I said: ‘You’re becoming an ambassador for this thing; people look at you and your record and the life you lead and things you’ve done, which are extraordinary, and in some ways you are legitimizing what [OceanGate] are doing.” Lahey said he’s received messages from others he had warned against going on the OceanGate expedition, thanking him.