What started as an adventurous dive to explore the Titanic wreck ended in heartbreak for Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman.
They were among the five victims who perished instantly when the Titan submersible suffered a catastrophic implosion just 1,600 feet from the Titanic’s bow.
Shahzada, a 48-year-old businessman, was part of one of Pakistan’s wealthiest families, yet he left behind less than £100,000 for his wife in the UK.
Despite being a key figure in his family’s £1.3 billion-a-year business empire, most of his wealth remained tied to Pakistan.
A Life Rooted in Success and Family
Shahzada Dawood lived in Surrey with his wife Christine, a life coach, and their two children.
He was the vice chairman of Engro Corporation and Dawood Hercules Corporation, both major players in the fertiliser, food, and chemical industries.
Born in Pakistan, he later moved to the UK, where he studied law at the University of Buckingham.
The Dawood family’s connection to the UK was strong, but Shahzada’s primary ties remained with the family business in Pakistan.
Tragically, he died without a valid will, which meant his UK estate, worth just £76,958, was passed to Christine through a Grant of Letters of Administration.
The Day Disaster Struck
On June 18, 2024, Shahzada and Suleman boarded the Titan submersible to visit the Titanic wreck.
Suleman, a student at Strathclyde University in Glasgow, carried his Rubik’s Cube, hoping to break a world record for solving it at great depths.
Disaster struck when the sub lost contact with its support ship, the Polar Prince, at 2:45 PM.
Days of intense searching followed, with rescuers deploying planes, ships, and sonar equipment.
The tragic confirmation came when debris from the Titan was found, revealing the sub had imploded at a depth of 12,500 feet.
A Family’s Heartbreak
Christine and her daughter Alina, then 17, waited anxiously aboard the Polar Prince for news.
When the debris was discovered, they were devastated.
Christine later recalled sitting with her daughter on the deck, crying as they faced the unimaginable loss.
“I’m a widow now,” Christine told her daughter. Alina replied, “Yes, and I’m a single child.”
The moment was filled with grief, and Christine described it as an experience that tore away her sense of identity and purpose.
Remembering Shahzada and Suleman
Christine often speaks about finding solace in the ocean, which she feels connects her to her late husband and son.
In a heartfelt tribute, she shared how touching the waves reminds her of their presence.
“We don’t have graves for them,” she said, explaining that the ocean has become their resting place.
In moments by the sea, she feels their love and whispers around her, offering a sense of peace amid the loss.
A Love Story and Shared Dreams
Shahzada met Christine at Reutlingen University in Germany, where they bonded over shared values and became “kindred spirits.”
Suleman inherited his father’s curiosity and passion, developing a fascination with the Titanic after building a 10,000-piece Lego model as a teenager.
Christine was originally meant to join the dive, but plans changed during the pandemic.
Suleman took her place, eager to share the adventure with his father.
A Community in Mourning
The tragedy touched not just the Dawood family but the wider global community.
The Titan’s other passengers included OceanGate’s CEO Stockton Rush, British businessman Hamish Harding, and French diver Paul-Henry Nargeolet.
Christine continues to honor her husband and son’s memory, drawing strength from her support network.
Despite the unimaginable loss, she remains resilient, sharing her journey of healing and gratitude for those who stand by her.