Suleman Dawood had completed an internship at his dad’s company where he left a mark with his Rubik’s cube and smile (Picture: Dawood Group and Engro Corporation)
A student who died on the Titan submersible had been excited at the prospect of one day working for his dad’s company.
Suleman Dawood, 19, and his dad Shahzada, 48, were onboard the mini-sub which suffered a ‘catastrophic’ failure on an expedition to the Titanic.
They were among a group of five on the OceanGate vessel when it submerged into the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday before losing contact with its mothership an hour and 45 minutes into the journey.
Suleman, a student at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, is said to have been looking forward to working for Pakistani conglomerate Engro Group, where his dad was vice-chairman.
The family also paid tribute to Shahzada this morning, describing him as ‘passionate about philanthropy and giving back’ and ‘constantly excited to learn more about the world around him’.
The dad and son, from Surbiton, south east London, were with fellow adventurers Hamish Harding, 58, Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77, and Stockton Rush, 61, on the submersible.
A spokesperson for the Dawood family said: ‘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.
MORE : For the latest updates on the Titanic submarine, follow Metro.co.uk’s live blog here
Suleman and Shahzada had a close bond and a shared interest in exploring the world (Picture: Dawood Group and Engro Corporation)
‘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, 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.’
The family, including wife and mother Christine and daughter and sister Alina, also paid tribute to the bond between father and son.
Suleman was described as a humble young man who was admired by his friends at university (Picture: Dawood Group and Engro Corporation)
The spokesperson said: ‘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.’
Shahzada, who was also a long-standing director at Engro, was described as an inspiration to those around him.
The spokesperson said: ‘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.’
The family also turned to the legacy left behind by the business leader after the tragedy was confirmed with the announcement yesterday that the sub’s tail cone and other debris had been discovered on the sea floor around 1,600ft from the bow of the Titanic.
Shahzada has been remembered as a guiding light who was keen to explore the world (Picture: Dawood Group and Engro Corporation)
The spokesperson said: ‘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 video conference 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.’
Tributes are being paid to all five men onboard the Titan, which had been heading to the wreck 3,800 meters under the Atlantic Ocean.
Suleman had been an intern at his dad’s company and was said to be excited at joining the company full-time (Picture: Dawood Group and Engro Corporation)
At a briefing in Boston, Rear Admiral John Mauger, the First Coast Guard District commander, told the media that a remotely operated vehicle had found the tail cone along with ‘additional debris’.
Rear Adm Boston said: ‘In consultation with experts within the unified command, the debris is consistent with a catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber. Upon this determination, we immediately notified the families.
‘On behalf of the United States Coastguard and the entire unified command, I offer my deepest condolences to the families.
‘I can only imagine what it has been like for them, and I only hope this discovery provides some solace during this difficult time.’
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A promising British student and his dad have been lost in the ‘unfathomable tragedy’ of the Titan submersible.
