The devastated family of Shahzada and Suleman Dawood who were tragically killed on the Titan submersible last month have offered a glimpse into their family album.
Azmeh Dawood, the older sister of Pakistani businessman Shahzada or ‘Shay’ shared a number of heart-warming photographs, showing the father and son duo at their happiest – with their loved ones.
Speaking to Daily Express US exclusively, Azmeh said the news that her 48-year-old brother and 19-year-old nephew had passed away “broke” her.
She said: “We are all devastated, my two boys in particular. They were a set – my sons and their cousin, Suleman – growing up.
“The clouds are very grey and heavy right now, but I hope we can all find some brightness in our days soon.”
Very tearfully, Azmeh reminisced while flicking through the photographs. She explained how she and Christina Dawood – Shahzada’s wife – were pregnant at the same time and their sons were born five days apart.
She added: “People used to think the two cousins were twins. They were so close. They celebrated every birthday together as children.”
Despite his decision to join his father on the doomed vessel that was headed for the Titanic wreckage before it imploded, killing all five passengers onboard, Azmeh said Suleman was never the “adventurous type”.
“He wasn’t the adventurous type at all, particularly not as a child. When all of the cousins would go out to play and they were jumping over streams or throwing themselves down slides at the park, Suleman would always hang back. He needed a lot of encouragement,” she said.
Azmeh said that he was “sensible like his father”, who also tragically died on the OceanGate submersible.
She said: “My brother was actually really sensible, stable and solid. He was into plants and nature, and growing things, and he loved his family very much.
“He always found magic and wonder in everything, but he wasn’t adventurous by nature either.
“He was, however, completely and utterly obsessed with the Titanic, so the trip on the submersible really would have been the ultimate present for him.”
Azmeh expressed her concerns that Suleman was “racked with terrible fear” being such a young age and facing such a huge decision in going down to those depths of the ocean.
She fears that he may have brought the Rubiks cube down there with him not just in an attempt to break a Guinness World Record, but as a “distraction”.
Azmeh added: “Suleman was the gentlest, kindest, and most loving boy. There are people in this world that are givers and some that are takers, and he was of life’s givers. He did things for people, and we all loved that about him.
“I would like him to be remembered this way. He showed us what true love is. He spread love everywhere he went.
“I also want to thank the whole world for holding their breath together with us while we awaited the terrible news last month. They worried, prayed and lit candles for us and I will forever be grateful for that.”
