Keighley diver who explored Titanic wreck dies at 55 (From Keighley News)

Keighley diver who explored Titanic wreck dies at 55

8:49am Thursday 1st November 2012 in Keighley

The son of famous Keighley “Goldfinder” Keith Jessop, also a renowned salvage diver, has died at the age of 55.

Graham Jessop, one of the first people to explore the wreck of the Titanic, died last month after a fight against cancer. His father, who like Graham had lived for years in France, died two years ago from cancer. Graham and his father made their names in 1981 after bringing up £44 million of gold from the wartime wreck of HMS Edinburgh.

The pair carried out more salvage operations together, then after Keith stepped down in the 1980s Graham continued with his own companies.

Graham's sister Carol told the Keighley News that her brother had “really made it in his own right” following her father’s retirement.

In 1999 Graham found the wreck of the Carpathia, the ship that rescued survivors from the Titanic, and captured images for a TV documentary.

The 13,000-tonne Cunard liner had lain in 600 feet of water in the Atlantic Ocean since 1918, when it had been sunk by a submarine.

Keith’s company also worked with NUMA – the National Underwater Marine Agency – to find and explore several historic wrecks.

Graham is survived by his wife Ann and children Tara and Thomas, his siblings Carol and Ian, and his mother Mildred.