A Wokingham borough family was anxiously hoping for news of adventurer Hamish Harding and his crewmates from a submarine.
Nursery nurse Lucy Cosnett, 38, is goddaughter of Mr Harding. Lucy and her mother Kathleen, who is Mr Harding’s cousin, both live in Twyford.
The crew of the Titan submersible lost contact with their surface vessel an hour and 45 minutes after it began to dive towards the Titanic wreck off Newfoundland on Sunday. The sea is up to 2.4 miles deep in that area.
Lucy, who has messaged Mr Harding’s sons in Dubai, said: “It was a shock to hear this news. This is an anxious time and I’m thinking of his immediate family.”
Lucy works as a member of bank staff at nurseries in the borough.
In August last year she flew to Austria to see Mr Harding, head of Action Aviation based in Dubai, being awarded a medal for his contributions to aviation and aerospace at the European Living Legends of Aviation Awards.
From Austria she flew in his private jet to Dubai where he lives.
“While I was there we went to an indoor theme park – when I was younger we went to Alton Towers and also Disneyland in America,” she said.
“He is a very kind man. He paid for my schooling and towards nursery training college. He has played an important part in my life. He is very intelligent and went to Cambridge.”
Lucy also flew to Texas last June to see Mr Harding fly into space on the Blue Origin space rocket.
“We saw him briefly before take-off and said goodbye to the astronauts. He wasn’t nervous. We were driven to the viewing platform to see the take-off,” she said.
Lucy’s mum, Kathleen, 69 and a member of Twyford Singers, said: “I am very concerned about him – and all the families involved.
“The last time I saw him my other daughter and I flew in his aeroplane over Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire.
“He is a kind and caring man – and very adventurous. He flew round the world breaking the record for the fastest time.”
She said that this Saturday will be Mr Harding’s 59th birthday.
Mrs Cosnett is well known for her own kindness giving many people lifts to hospital and other medical appointments as part of the volunteer drivers service.
