Gone Too Soon: British Pakistani Businessman and Son Tragically Killed in Titan Submarine Catastrophe

At 12 PM GMT on Sunday 18th June , the Titan submersible starts what was supposed to be 120-minute descent to the site on the ocean floor where the wreck of the famous Titanic ship lies. There were five people on board the vessel – British billionaire and adventure enthusiast Hamish Harding, CEO of OceanGate Expeditions Stockton Rush, a submersible pilot from France Paul-Henri Nargeolet, and British-Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman. 1 hour 45 minutes since they started the descent, the submersible lost contact with the surface vessel. As the submersible failed to emerge to the surface in due time, a frantic search aided by multiple countries was set off to rescue those onboard Titan.

Four days later on Thursday 22 June, US Coast Guard announced the discovery of debris by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). It brought to a halt the search which had a global audience cued in, with the announcement that all aboard the Titan were probably killed instantly in a “catastrophic implosion”. The news also brought some closure to the family members who were torn thinking about different possibilities about what probably happened to their loved ones on that fateful sub. While four out of five people on that vehicle had a knack for adventure, the 19-yo Suleman was there by sheer destiny.

Prior to the tragic events being made public, Azmeh Dawood, the sister of Dawood, mentioned in an interview with NBC News that her nephew was genuinely afraid and reluctantly agreed to participate in the journey solely due to his father’s deep fascination with the Titanic. Suleman, the nephew, apparently expressed his apprehension to his family, indicating a lack of enthusiasm for the trip. Azmeh further explained that the excursion took place during the Father’s Day weekend, and Suleman was eager to make his father happy.

Hamish Harding Biography: Age, Birthday, Early Life, Career, Awards, Net Worth

Suleman who was a student at Strathclyde University in Glasgow, lived in Surbiton, south-west London with his father, mother Christine and sister Alina. The father and son were members of a highly esteemed family in Pakistan. Shahzada Dawood, aged 48, held the position of vice-chairman at Engro Corporation, a prominent conglomerate in Pakistan. Additionally, he had been a trusted advisor to Prince’s Trust International, an organization supported by the King, specifically involved in its endeavors within Pakistan.

In addition to his professional endeavors, Shahzada Dawood was actively involved in philanthropic initiatives. He showed his support for the British Asian Trust, an organization dedicated to addressing poverty issues in South Asia. Furthermore, Shahzada served as a trustee for the Seti Institute, a prestigious research institution based in California that focuses on the exploration of extraterrestrial life. It’s worth mentioning that Hussain Dawood, Shahzada’s father, played a significant role as a founding patron of Prince’s Trust International, as confirmed by the charitable organization.