Last hope for Titanic five as rescue mission enters final hours

A French ship viewed as the last hope of finding the missing Titanic submersible has crossed the Atlantic and is at the search zone ready to drop its remote-controlled sub to find five missing adventurers - but their oxygen is expected to run out at Midday today.

The vanished vessel, Titan, lost communication with tour operators on Sunday while about 435 miles south of St John's, Newfoundland, during a voyage to the Titanic off the coast of Canada. The last 'ping' of its homing device was heard on Sunday afternoon - directly above the world's most famous seawreck. A countdown has now begun with the vital oxygen supply expected to run out at 12.08pm GMT (7.08am EST and 9.08pm Sydney) with a 'miracle' now needed to find it in time as banging every 30 minutes is still being heard from the depths but has not been located.