‘Their relationship was a joy to behold’: Heartbroken family of British university student, 19, and father who died in Titanic submersible ‘implosion’ pay tribute to beloved pair who ‘shared passion for adventure’

• Businessman Shahzada Dawood and son Suleman were two of the five victims

The heartbroken family of a British university student and his father who died in the tragic Titanic submarine ‘implosion’ have paid a poignant tribute to the beloved pair who ‘cherished a shared passion for adventure’. 

Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman, 19, were two of the five victims killed instantly when the OceanGate submersible suffered a ‘catastrophic implosion’ just 1,600ft from the bow of the Titanic, according to the US Coast Guard.

The other victims were OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, French Navy veteran Paul-Henri (PH) Nargeolet and British billionaire Hamish Harding.

Honouring the legacy of father and son, Shahzada and Suleman, the family spoke of how the pair were each other’s ‘greatest supporters’ with an ‘unwavering curiosity’ which built the foundation for their close friendship and inspired those around them.

‘In this unfathomable tragedy, we try to find solace in the enduring legacy of humility and humanity that they have left behind and find comfort in the belief that they passed on to the next leg of their spiritual journey hand-in-hand, father and son,’ the tribute says. 

It adds: ‘Shahzada’s and Suleman’s absence will be felt deeply by all those who had the privilege of knowing this pair. It is difficult to articulate the grief of the immediate Dawood family.’ Read the tribute in full below.

University student Suleman (left), 19, and his father Shahzada Dawood (right) were two of the five victims who were killed instantly when the OceanGate submersible suffered a ‘catastrophic implosion’ 

Shahzada Dawood, 48, (pictured with his wife Christine) was a UK-based board member of the Prince’s Trust charity

Sulaiman Dawood, 19, pictured with his mother Christine, a coach and psychologist

The tribute spoke of their unbreakable family values, their passion for learning about the world around them and philanthropy. 

It told about the excitement Suleman had felt to join his father’s business and how he ‘was keenly aware of the past efforts of his family that enabled him to have the experiences he did, and he never took them for granted; he remained grounded and humble and emotionally wise beyond his years.’

Suleman was described as a ‘sociable companion, admired by his friends at university and loved dearly by his sister and young cousins, who often looked up to ‘Suleman bhai’ for friendship, advice, and laughter.’

The tribute came after Suleman’s heartbroken aunt said he was ‘terrified’ about the trip and only joined the crew to please his dad for Father’s Day.

Tragically, Azmeh Dawood told NBC News that her nephew informed a relative he ‘wasn’t very up for it’ but felt compelled to please his father, who was very passionate about the 1912 shipwreck.

‘I am thinking of Suleman, who is 19, in there, just perhaps gasping for breath… It’s been crippling, to be honest,’ the devastated aunt and sister told the US outlet from her home in Amsterdam.

Azmeh Dawood (pictured) – the older sister of Mr Dawood – revealed that her nephew was ‘terrified’ about the trip and only went on it to please his father

The Dawood family paid tribute following the announcement that Shahzada and his son Suleman were among those who died

Mr Dawood and his son were heirs to the great Dawood business dynasty and among the richest people in Pakistan. 

They were British citizens and lived in Surbiton, Surrey. Suleman and his older sister were both raised in London.

Read more: University student, 19, killed in Titanic submarine ‘implosion’ was ‘terrified’ about the trip and only joined to please his dad for Father’s Day, aunt reveals

Suleman was a student at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. The university confirmed on Thursday that the teenager was a business school student who had just completed his first year.

Professor Sir Jim McDonald, principal & vice-chancellor of the University said: ‘We are shocked and profoundly saddened by the death of Suleman Dawood and his father in this tragic incident.

‘The entire Strathclyde community offers our deepest condolences to the Dawood family and all those affected by this terrible accident.

‘Our student wellbeing team remains on hand to offer appropriate support to Suleman’s classmates and the wider Strathclyde community at this difficult time.’

Mr Dawood’s company shared condolences with the family. In a statement, Engro Corporation, the Pakistani conglomerate that he was vice chairman of, said: ‘With heavy hearts and great sadness, we grieve the loss of our vice chairman, Shahzada Dawood, and his beloved son, Suleman Dawood. 

‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the Dawood family at this tragic time. 

‘We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, colleagues, friends and all those around the world who grieve this unthinkable loss.’ 

The US Coast Guard confirmed the tail cone of the deep-sea vessel was discovered about 1,600ft from the bow of the Titanic wreckage during a press conference in Boston.

Rear Admiral John Mauger said further debris was also found, in the North Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Newfoundland, that was ‘consistent with a catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber’.

Five people were onboard, including British billionaire adventurer Hamish Harding (pictured)

French Navy veteran PH Nargeolet (left) was also in the sub along with Stockton Rush (right), CEO of the OceanGate Expedition

Rescuers had scrambled to locate the missing Titanic tourist submersible but it was confirmed that debris had been found from it

In Loving Memory: Honouring the Legacies of Father and Son, Shahzada and Suleman Dawood… The family’s statement in full

With profound sorrow, we mourn the tragic loss of Shahzada and his beloved son, Suleman, who had embarked on a journey to visit the remnants of the legendary Titanic in the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. These beloved sons of the Dawood family were aboard the Ocean Gate submersible that has been presumed lost at sea. In this unfathomable tragedy, we try to find solace in the enduring legacy of humility and humanity that they have left behind and find comfort in the belief that they passed on to the next leg of their spiritual journey hand-in-hand, father and son.

‘The relationship between Shahzada and Suleman was a joy to behold; they were each other’s greatest supporters and cherished a shared passion for adventure and exploration of all the world had to offer them. This unwavering curiosity built the foundation for a close friendship between the two and inspired those around them to develop a similar passion for learning. By being as they were with one another, they embodied valuable lessons on the pursuit of knowledge, exploration of the unknown, and bonds of familial friendship.

‘Family values are a guiding beacon for the Dawood family and Shahzada always strived to emulate these, teaching his children to do the same. He was passionate about philanthropy and giving back because above all, he cared deeply about people and human development. He was an avid gardener and photographer, always on the lookout for technology and tools that would help him improve; these hobbies were an extension of his passion to better himself. On this count, Shahzada was consistent – he encouraged everyone around him to elevate their capabilities by learning and trying new things to become better versions of themselves. He was constantly excited to learn more about the world around him and was an ardent animal lover – he had two pets, a dog named Stig and a cat named Proteus, who would sometimes make their presence felt in videoconference meetings that Shahzada was part of. Shahzada was focused on extending the entrepreneurial legacy of the family with the setup of businesses in renewable energy and technology domains, with an ardent belief that these would engender prosperity for thousands of Pakistani families. As the Vice Chairman of the Board of Engro Corporation, and one of its longest standing directors, he was instrumental in directing the organization to solve meaningful problems for Pakistan; his legacy will be felt on by the number of public services Engro will continue to provide in the future.

‘Suleman, much like his father, was also deeply committed to serve. His excitement to join Engro after he graduated could not be contained, culminating in an internship in the summer of 2022 to learn more about the organization that his family was such a passionate believer in; Suleman is remembered fondly by Engro colleagues as a tall young man walking around with his beloved Rubik’s cube and a smile on his face. He loved science fiction literature and volleyball but his greatest quality was the humility he espoused which was a true reflection of his parents’ upbringing. He was keenly aware of the past efforts of his family that enabled him to have the experiences he did, and he never took them for granted; he remained grounded and humble and emotionally wise beyond his years. A sociable companion, Suleman was admired by his friends at university and loved dearly by his sister and young cousins, who often looked up to ‘Suleman bhai’ for friendship, advice, and laughter.

‘Shahzada and Suleman were loved by all members of the wider family but they were especially cherished by Christine (wife and mother) and Alina (daughter and sister). Shahzada and Alina shared a true father-daughter relationship; they were affectionate with each other, would often cook together, and had very philosophical conversations about life. At the center of this family was Christine, who held them all together like glue, having fully devoted herself to these wonderful individuals whom she fiercely loved and protected.

‘Shahzada’s and Suleman’s absence will be felt deeply by all those who had the privilege of knowing this pair. It is difficult to articulate the grief of the immediate Dawood family, including not only Christine and Alina, but also parents, Hussain and Kulsum Dawood, and Shahzada’s siblings and their spouses. During this tragic time, we ask everyone to respect the sentiments and privacy of the bereaved family as they come to terms with the loss of two of their dearest members.

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