Final image of UK businessman and his son before they boarded Titanic tourist sub on Father's Day

3 July 2023, 20:33

The final images of the Dawood family before the sub trip
The final images of the Dawood family before the sub trip. Picture: Family Handout

By Emma Soteriou

The final image of businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son has emerged before the pair boarded the Titanic tourist sub on Father's Day.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Shahzada Dawood, 58, and his son Suleman, 19, were pictured smiling in orange life jackets shortly before boarding the Titan vessel.

They were among five to have died after the "catastrophic implosion" of the sub.

OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush was also on the trip along with UK billionaire Hamish Harding and French explorer Paul Henry Nargeolet, having paid $250,000 a head.

Read more: OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush flew to London to reassure UK businessman and his son over Titanic sub trip

Submersible lost on dive to Titanic suffered 'catastrophic implosion', say US Coast Guard

Rush flew to London to personally reassure businessman Mr Dawood and his son that the Titan sub was safe ahead of the voyage, family said on Monday.

Three months before, Rush and his wife met with them to brief them on the trip.

Mr Dawood's wife, Christine Dawood, said that Rush spoke to the family about the sub's design and safety but technical details of the trip remained unclear.

"That engineering side, we just had no idea," Ms Dawood told The New York Times. 

"I mean, you sit in a plane without knowing how the engine works."

The Dawood family had become fascinated with the Titanic after visiting an exhibition in Singapore in 2012.

Rush is said to have believed the journey was "safer than crossing the street", despite previous warnings from experts that there were safety risks.

Read more: Youngest ever visitor to the Titanic passed out from lack of oxygen on trip to ocean depths

Read more: Titan sub's final moments revealed as crew was told they would be in total darkness for descent to Titanic wreck

The Dawoods
The Dawoods. Picture: Family Handout

Ms Dawood said she was on board the Titan's mother ship, the Polar Prince, with the couple's 17-year-old daughter Alina in St John's in Newfoundland. She was told not to worry when then sub lost contact.

The group was given two briefings before they left and were told to put on warm clothing to deal with cold temperatures.

They were also told to go on a "low-residue diet" prior to the voyage, and instructed not to have coffee in the morning.

The group were expected to be in total darkness and listening to their favourite music as the vessel descended.

They were hoping to become one of the few people alive to have seen the 12,000ft-deep wreck of the Titanic with their own eyes.

The explorer who narrowly avoided trip on missing OceanGate sub

On Thursday 22 June, four days after the sub had suffered communication failures, the debris of the sub was discovered.

It was uncovered by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) at 3800 metres below the surface of the water.

Presumed human remains were later found, with the US Coast Guard saying in a statement: "United States medical professionals will conduct a formal analysis of presumed human remains that have been carefully recovered within the wreckage at the site of the incident."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Relatives of Israeli hostages gather at Begin Street to stage a protest demanding the start of the second round of hostage swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in Tel Aviv, Israel on March 01, 2025.

Israel 'accepts proposal for temporary ceasefire' in Gaza during Ramadan and Passover

Tens of thousands unable to access emails as Microsoft Outlook and Teams hit with global outage.

Tens of thousands unable to access emails as Microsoft Outlook and Teams hit with global outage

Zelenskyy warmly embraced by Starmer and set to meet King, after fierce White House clash with Trump.

Starmer pledges £2.26bn loan to Ukraine for weapons production as Zelenskyy thanks UK for 'tremendous support'

David Johansen performs during the 34th Annual John Lennon Tribute Benefit Concert at Symphony Space on December 5, 2014 in New York City.

New York Dolls frontman and Punk legend David Johansen dead aged 75

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet the King as part of his visit to the UK.

Zelenskyy to meet King Charles as Starmer shows support for Ukrainian leader after White House disaster

Seven Sisters Road

Three teenage girls charged with manslaughter after Bolivian man, 75, killed in north London

WHSmith is closing 17 stores

WHSmith brand set to vanish from British high streets after 230 years as firms place bids on all 500 stores

Rachel Reeves has said the UK won't choose between Ukraine and the US

'We won't choose between Zelenskyy and Trump,' Chancellor tells LBC - as she vows UK is 'fully behind' Ukraine

File photo of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy

Pills found next to body of Gene Hackman's wife are 'significant', police say, as mystery of couple's deaths deepens

Seven Sisters Road

Three teenage girls arrested after Bolivian man, 75, killed in north London, as murder probe launched

Zelenskyy warmly embraced by Starmer and set to meet King, after fierce White House clash with Trump.

'We stand with you,' Starmer tells Zelenskyy in warm Downing Street meeting after fierce White House clash with Trump

Ukraine needs Starmer and other European leaders to help 'heal the wound' between Trump and Zelenskyy, the country's former Prime Minister has said

Ukraine relying on Starmer to 'heal wound' between Zelenskyy and Trump, country's ex-PM says after 'catastrophe'

Keir Starmer is facing calls to rescind an invitation for a state visit to Donald Trump

Calls for UK to retract Trump state visit invite after Zelenskyy row, as SNP says Starmer 'needs to get off his knees'

President Donald J Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office

'Ukraine should not be forgotten': Defiant Zelenskyy refuses to back down after White House row with Trump

President Donald Trump, center, greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, at the White House, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

'He fought like a lion': Ukrainians rally round Zelenskyy after heated White House row with Trump

Exclusive
Putin is likely to have been emboldened by the argument

‘Putin is the only winner of Trump-Zelenskyy row’, Ukrainian MP tells LBC - as Kremlin openly celebrates spat