Suleman Dawood and his father Shahzada Suleman.Photo:DAWOOD HERCULES CORPORATION/AFP via Getty Images

DAWOOD HERCULES CORPORATION/AFP via Getty Images
The university whereTitansubmersiblevictimSuleman Dawoodstudied is sharing its condolences following his death in the fateful expedition.
Clockwise from left: ‘Titan’ sub victims Hamish Harding, Stockton Rush, Shahzada Dawood and son Suleman, and Paul-Henri Nargeolet.JOEL SAGET,HANDOUT/Dirty Dozen Productions/OceanGat/AFP via Getty Images

JOEL SAGET,HANDOUT/Dirty Dozen Productions/OceanGat/AFP via Getty Images
The statement comes as friends and family of Shahzada and Suleman Dawoodpay tribute to the late father and son.
In a moving homage to the pair, the Dawood family said in a statement Friday that they “mourn the tragic loss” with “profound sorrow” and went on to praise the close bond between father and son.
The relationship between Pakistani-British businessman Shahzada and university student Suleman “was a joy to behold; they were each other’s greatest supporters and cherished a shared passion for adventure and exploration of all the world had to offer them,” the statement issued toPEOPLEread.
Shahzada Dawood.HANDOUT/DAWOOD HERCULES CORPORATION/AFP

HANDOUT/DAWOOD HERCULES CORPORATION/AFP
The father and son leave behind Christine (wife and mother) and Alina (daughter and sister). The tribute painted a picture of a family who was “affectionate with each other, would often cook together and had very philosophical conversations about life.”
“At the center of this family was Christine, who held them all together like glue, having fully devoted herself to these wonderful individuals whom she fiercely loved and protected,” the statement continued.
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On Thursday, Azmeh Dawood, Suleman’s aunt, revealed toNBC Newsthat her nephew went on the voyage to the historic underwater siteto please his father. “I am thinking of Suleman, who is 19, in there, just perhaps gasping for breath … It’s been crippling, to be honest,” she recalled.
According to Azmeh, Shahzada had a passion for theTitanicfrom a young age and was not surprised that he had purchased tickets for himself and his son to travel on the OceanGate submersible.
Since the voyage was scheduled to depart on Father’s Day, Suleman reportedly decided to go on the trip reluctantly after having shared with a relative that he “wasn’t very up for it” and felt “terrified,” Azmeh explained to NBC News.
source: people.com