British Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, who were part of the expedition to view the Titanic wreck in OceanGate’s submersible Titan, have died.

The grief-stricken family of the two men have said that they are on the “next leg of their spiritual journey hand-in-hand”, after the US Coast Guard confirmed on 22 June that debris from the submersible had been found on the ocean floor. The vessel is said to have imploded due to the massive pressure underwater.

It was revealed that Suleman, 19, was a business school student at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, and had just completed his first year. Shahzada, 48, was the Vice Chairman of Dawood Hercules Corporation, a public investment holding company. He was also the shareholder director of the Engro Corporation and a board member of King Charles III’s Prince’s Trust charity.

Hussain Dawood, who is Shahzada’s father, is one of Pakistan’s richest men and head of the Engro Corporation which has an array of interests in energy, agriculture, petrochemicals and telecommunications.

Tributes have been flooding for the victims of the tragedy, with the University of Strathclyde telling Glasgow Live that they were ‘shocked and saddened’ by the news.

Educated in the UK and the US, billionaire Shahzada lived in England with his wife Christine and their two children, Suleman and Alina.

In a statement shared by the Dawood family, they wrote: “It is with profound grief that we announce the passing of Shahzada and Suleman Dawood,” said a statement from the Dawood Foundation, a family-run education charity.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the other passengers on the Titan submersible,” it read, signed by Hussain and Kulsum Dawood, Shahzada’s parents.

“We are truly grateful to all those involved in the rescue operations. Their untiring efforts were a source of strength for us during this time.”

In a statement, Engro Corporation said it was mourning Shahzada, and “his beloved son” Suleman “with heavy hearts and great sadness”.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, colleagues, friends, and all those around the world who grieve this unthinkable loss.”

– ‘Great sadness’ –

Shahzada was also a trustee of the California-based Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute, which looks for evidence of extraterrestrial life.

“It is with great sadness that we learned of the loss of our dear friend,” said CEO Bill Diamond in a statement.

“Shahzada was passionately curious and an enthusiastic supporter of the SETI Institute and our mission, being directly involved in philanthropic programs in education, research and public outreach.”

“He will be deeply missed by all who knew him,” the statement added.