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British-Pakistani billionaire Shahzada Dawood and his son, Suleman Dawood, died "hand in hand" in the catastrophic implosion of a sub on an expedition to the Titanic shipwreck, their family has said in a tribute to them.
The 48- and 19-year-old were among five aboard Titan, OceanGate's submersible vessel which went missing on Sunday on its descent to the wreck about 12,500 feet below the sea floor and approximately 425 miles south-southwest off the coast of Newfoundland.
"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 family said.
Also on board were: Stockton Rush, CEO of OceanGate, the company that organized the expedition; French submariner Paul-Henry Nargeolet; and British explorer Hamish Harding.
U.S. officials said on Thursday that all five passengers had died immediately when the vessel imploded. Titan lost contact with the surface an hour and 45 minutes into the dive.
The family said the relationship between father and son "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."
The pair both loved learning with an "unwavering curiosity," the family added, and were there for each other. "They embodied valuable lessons on the pursuit of knowledge, exploration of the unknown, and bonds of familial friendship," the family told Glasgow Live, a news outlet in the city where Suleman studied business at Strathclyde University.
"Family values are a guiding beacon for the Dawood family, and Shahzada always strived to emulate these, teaching his children to do the same."
Strathclyde University said it was "shocked and saddened" by the tragedy.
Debris from the vessel was discovered on Thursday by a remotely operated vehicle scouring the seabed near the Titanic wreck. The U.S. Coast Guard said it was "consistent with the catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber" which is believed to have caused the implosion of Titan.
Rescuers had been racing to find the vessel before the oxygen supply ran out of the limited oxygen available on board, estimated to be 96 hours from their departure on Sunday morning.
Azmeh Dawood, Suleman's aunt and his father's older sister, said that the student was "terrified" in the days before the expedition to the Titanic wreckage, as reported by NBC News, and had expressed hesitation about going.
In a phone interview with the news company from her home in Amsterdam, she said that Suleman had told a relative that he wasn't really "up for" the expedition and that it was heart-wrenching to think of his final moments.
"I am thinking of Suleman, who is 19, in there, just perhaps gasping for breath…It's been crippling, to be honest," Azmeh Dawood said.
She said she had lost touch with her brother in recent years, but was overwhelmed by grief when she heard of his death on Thursday.
"He was my baby brother," she said. "I held him up when he was born."
OceanGate, the company which owned the Titan submersible, said in a statement following confirmation of the deaths
"These men were true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world's oceans."
It added: "Our hearts are with these five souls and every member of their families during this tragic time. We grieve the loss of life and joy they brought to everyone they knew."
OceanGate also thanked the organizations which mobilized to help locate the missing vessel and the support of the international community in expediting the rescue mission.
Investigations are underway over what caused the implosion of Titan, as questions grow over whether the vessel was safely designed.
Suleman and Shahzada Dawood 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.
"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 centre 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."
Update 6/24/23, 3:28 p.m. ET: Full text of the family's statement has been added.
About the writer
Giulia Carbonaro is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. Her focus is on the U.S. economy, housing market, property ... Read more