Nineteen-year-old Suleman Dawood, one of the persons aboard the Titan submarine that was lost during an expedition to the Titanic shipwreck, had expressed “concerns” about the trip, his aunt said. 

Azmeh Dawood, the older sister of Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, revealed in an interview on Thursday that her nephew, Suleman, had voiced his hesitations and feelings of “terror” regarding the trip.

Despite his reservations, the young man eventually boarded OceanGate’s 22-foot submersible. He wanted to please his father — who was deeply fascinated with Titanic’s history — and the excursion coincided with Father’s Day weekend, Azmeh shared.

Speaking from her home in Amsterdam, Azmeh expressed her devastation upon learning that all five passengers aboard the Titan were presumed dead, as confirmed by OceanGate. The US Coast Guard reported that the debris found in the search area indicated a “catastrophic implosion”.

The past four days have been filled with agony for Azmeh as she anxiously followed the news coverage of the Titan search, desperately seeking updates on the well-being of her brother and nephew while fearing the worst possible outcome.

She shared her disbelief and described the experience as “unreal,” and said that the emotional toll has been overwhelming for her. 

“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,” she said.

Azmeh and Shahzada belong to one of Pakistan’s prominent corporate families, known for their business empire, Dawood Hercules Corp., with investments in various industries.

Shahzada served as the vice chairman of the Engro Corporation in Karachi and was an advisor to Prince’s Trust International, a charitable organization established by King Charles III.

Although Azmeh had lost touch with Shahzada in recent years due to differences over her use of medicinal cannabis to alleviate symptoms of primary progressive multiple sclerosis, she maintained a close bond with Suleman, whom she described as kind-hearted. 

The tragic turn of events has deeply affected Azmeh, leaving her devastated and mourning the loss of her beloved nephew.