A Liverpool bar appeared to advertise a themed cocktail surrounding the tragic Titan submersible.
Ex-directory, a secret cocktail bar on Vernon Street in the city centre, posted an Instagram reel on its page of an alcoholic drink called 'Merseygate'. The post also had hashtags including "#oceangate, #titanic #cocktailoftheweek" and also included horror themed music.
The cocktail bar also posted to its Instagram stories of a poll asking its customers to guess the theme of this week's cocktails. In the background is a blue drink surrounded by a toy Titanic, with what appears to be submarines with Liverpool written on them, bubbles, a bubble machine and other underwater objects.
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The poll options for Instagram users to choose were "yes", "no" or "you're cancelled". The Instagram story posted by Ex-directory appeared shortly before it was confirmed the five people onboard the Titan had died.
Writing on the reel posted by Ex-directory, one person said: "It may not have been intentional, but the timing makes it look like a really dark joke".
Bosses of the cocktail bar confirmed they took the posts down immediately when requested. They said it was also "never their intention to cause upset".
Ex-directory said in a statement: "We are aware of the situation, and as you have said, the post was taken down immediately upon request. It was never our intention to cause any upset.
"Our cocktails of the week are very often based off current events, news stories and various significant dates throughout the year. The cocktail was exactly that.
"We understand that it was perceived in poor taste however at the time of its conception the search and rescue mission was still well underway and indeed seemed hopeful. Regrettably the search and rescue mission was unsuccessful, and unfortunately five people lost their lives. Our thoughts and prays go out to the family’s of those lost."
At a press conference which was held on Thursday at 8pm (UK time), Rear Admiral John Mauger of the US Coast Guard said debris found near the Titanic is believed to be consistent with the Titan submersible.
The debris discovered was consistent with a "catastrophic implosion", officials said. Onboard the vessel was OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, British billionaire Hamish Harding, and Paul-Henri Nargeolet.
Rear Admiral Mauger said he could not confirm whether their bodies would be recovered because of the "incredibly unforgiving environment" of the ocean.