The victims of the Titanic submarine disaster are believed to be alive 3,800m under the Atlantic Ocean and desperately trying to raise help.
GB News understands regular SOS taps have been heard and two vehicles, which could only dive to 3000m, both imploded when they attempted to plunge lower.
Sources close to the rescue say two British deep water salvage companies - Ocean Infinity and Magellan - were three to four days away from sending equipment but it is believed the US coast guard decided not to fund the export.
It is thought that US President Joe Biden is now involved and the two British salvage companies have been told to stand down.
The l’Atlante vessel, a research and survey ship, in a photograph released by Ifremer which is thought have been sent by the French
Reuters
As part of rescue efforts, France have reportedly ignored US advice and sent a ship named the l’Atlante - a vessel featuring a robot - which can plunge to 20000ft.
The missing sub - named Titan - lost contact with its mothership, MV Polar Prince around one hour and 45 minutes into the two-hour descent.
The OceanGate sub's air supply is due to run out around 10am on Thursday UK time (5am EST).
Sources told GB News that two wives of the victims involved are on a ship desperately waiting for their loved ones.
British billionaire Hamish Harding, who runs an aviation company, is among those missing along with Paul-Henry Nargeolet, a former French Navy diver and Stockton Rush, the chief executive of OceanGate.
British businessman Shahzada Dawood, a member of one of Pakistan's richest families, and his 19-year-old son Suleman Dawood are also onboard the vessel.
The OceanGate Expeditions tour group, which takes explorers to the depths of the Atlantic for $200,000 per person, is believed to have lost contact when the vessel was directly above the Titanic wreck.
Titanic's wreck sits about 3,800m (12,500ft) below sea level at the bottom of the ocean around 370 miles off the coast of Newfoundland but in US waters.
An underwater camera has been used as part of rescue efforts
Reuters
Speaking on GB News, Oceanographer Dr Simon Boxall said: "They're in a very difficult situation here, they're sitting in four kilometres, 13,000 feet of water. That's the limit of the subs capability anyway.
"They're in a very deep part of the ocean, they're a long way from the coast as well so getting any sort of rescue attempt to them is going to take time and there are very few vessels that are capable of going to those sorts of depths."
He added: "And of course you know, we know obviously how long it took for us to discover Titanic and the size compared to the submersible significant gives you an idea of of how difficult this search is going to be."
