Son Was 'Terrified' before Going on Sub, Agreed to Go With 'Obsessed' Dad Because It Was Father’s Day

• The five people onboard the Titan submarine are presumed dead, including Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, 19.
• A family member opened up on why Suleman wasn't looking forward to the trip.

The five people on board the Titan submarine are presumed dead after the US Coast Guard said the debris found in the search area was consistent with a disastrous implosion.

Among the five on board were Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman Dawood.

Azmeh Dawood, Shahzada's older sister, revealed that Suleman had expressed hesitation about joining his father on the expedition days before the Titan went into the ocean off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada.

As per Azmeh, Suleman had told a relative that he was "terrified" about the trip to explore the wreckage of the Titanic and that he "wasn't very up for it," adding:

"He had a sense that this was not okay, and he was not very comfortable about doing it."

Despite his reservations, the university student ended up boarding OceanGate's 22-foot submersible alongside his dad and three others for a touching reason: the trip would fall on Father's Day weekend, and he was eager to please his dad.

Before news broke that the five on board were presumed dead, Azmeh said she was thinking of Suleman, "in there, just perhaps gasping for breath." She also admitted, "It's been crippling."

Azmeh has been glued to television news coverage, desperate for updates about her brother and nephew. She said she was hopeful even as she feared the worst:

"I feel like I've been caught in a really bad film, with a countdown, but you didn't know what you're counting down to. I personally have found it kind of difficult to breathe thinking of them."

Azmeh and her brother Shahzada are scions of one of the most famous corporate dynasties in Pakistan. Now, the family has lost and is mourning two of its members.

Amidst weeping and overwhelming emotions, Azmeh narrated, "He was my baby brother. I held him up when he was born."

What Was Suleman's Dad's Obsession?

As per Azmeh, Suleman went with his father into the submersible because Shahzada was passionate about the Titanic.

Azmeh remembered that her brother was "absolutely obsessed" with the Titanic from a young age. When they were children living in Pakistani, the Dawood kids would often watch "A Night to Remember," which was a 1958 British drama film about the sinking of the Titanic.

Azmeh also recalled that when Shahzada and his wife met, he asked her if they could watch a four-hour documentary about the Titanic.

Due to her brother's obsession with the Titanic, it came as no surprise to Azmeh when she heard he had bought tickets for the OceanGate mission. Unlike her, who wouldn't go on the Titanic voyage even if she was paid a million dollars, her brother would.

Azmeh and Shahzada's families have lots of businesses in Pakistan. Dawood Hercules Corp. has invested in industries such as agriculture and the healthcare sector.

Suleman's father was also the vice chairman of the Karachi-based Engro Corporation, as well as an adviser to Prince's Trust International, a charitable organization founded by King Charles III.

How Is Suleman's Family Now?

Azmeh and Shahzada's parents have released a statement thanking the search teams for their untiring efforts in looking for their family members for over four days.

Shahzada's parents Hussain Dawood and Kulsum Dawood added, "The immense love and support we receive continues to help us endure this unimaginable loss."

Azmeh was in tears when OceanGate, the company in charge of the Titan expedition, announced that Suleman and the other four passengers were presumed dead. She noted that she was in disbelief.

Azmeh revealed that over the years, she and Shahzada had lost touch, but when her brother was presumed dead, she remembered the intense love she had for her sibling.

Amidst weeping and overwhelming emotions, Azmeh narrated, "He was my baby brother. I held him up when he was born."

Shahzada and his sister fell out of touch when Azmeh was diagnosed with primary progressive multiple sclerosis. Azmeh had to use a wheelchair, which made her move from England to Amsterdam with her husband so she could have close access to medical cannabis.

Azmeh's family members, including Shahzada, disapproved of her use of medical cannabis, and they started speaking to her less frequently.

However, despite the significant loss of communication, Azmeh continued feeling close to Suleman, who she described as an extremely good-hearted man.

Overcome with emotions, Azmeh noted that Suleman was an angel heaven couldn't do without. She added that she was glad that their death was presumably sudden and with less pain due to the implosion of the submersible.

Azmeh said that Shahzada had now fulfilled his dream and had become part of the Titanic's history. "In those terms, it could be nothing greater," she added. She noted that when people search for the Titanic's story, this unfortunate incident will come up.

Still, Azmeh said Shahzada's beautiful wife and precious daughter will surely miss Shahzada and Suleman.

Azmeh spent June 22, 2023, looking at old photos of her family as she tried to understand the disaster that had hit the Dawood family due to the loss of her brother and nephew.

Shahzada's sister noted that she felt bad because the whole world had to go through so much suspense and trauma since the Titan submarine was reported missing with five on board.

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