An attorney who has almost 40 years of scuba diving experience has had a narrow escape after admitting he was scheduled to be on board the Titanic submarine, which has gone missing in the Atlantic.

Attorney and explorer David Concannon began scuba diving at the age of 14. He later went on to explore other shipwrecks as a “New Jersey wreck diver” in the late 1980s.

In a message shared on social media, he said: “Dear Friends, Re: Titanic. As I posted last week I was supposed to be on this expedition and, indeed, on this dive, but I had to cancel to attend to another urgent client matter.

“Last night, I was called and asked to provide whatever assistance I could to ensure the safe return of everyone in the sub. Of course, I immediately agreed. I know you are concerned for the safety of me and everyone at sea, but PLEASE STOP calling, texting, messaging, sending carrier pigeons and all other forms of communication during this critical time. You are interfering with more important communications that need to be made to resolve this situation as quickly and as safely as possible. Thank you!”

The announcement follows the disappearance of a submersible off the Canadian coast of Newfoundland that was being used to transport tourists to the Titanic disaster. There is currently a search and rescue effort, according to the Boston Coastguard.

Five persons are thought to have been on board the small submarine that transports paying tourists to the Titanic’s submerged wreckage around 370 miles off the coast of Newfoundland. The missing submersible is owned by OceanGate adventures, a private organization that plans deep-sea adventures, according to a statement they released.

In a statement, they said: “We are exploring and mobilizing all options to bring the crew back safely. Our entire focus is on the crewmembers in the submersible and their families.”