A GLASGOW student who died in the Titan submersible was "terrified" about going on the expedition but wanted to please his dad for Father's Day, his aunt has said.
Suleman Dawood was one of five men on board which US officials say suffered a "catastrophic explosion" while in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Canada on its descent to the Titanic wreckage.
The cone of the vessel was discovered about 1600ft from the bow of the wreckage, the US Coast Guard confirmed.
The US Navy said it had heard a sound consistent with an implosion when communications were lost.
It went back and analysed acoustic data and found an anomaly that was “consistent with an implosion or explosion in the general vicinity of where the Titan submersible was operating when communications were lost”, a senior Navy official told The Associated Press on Thursday.
Dawood had just finished up his first year at the University of Strathclyde, with staff there saying they are "shocked and profoundly saddened" by his passing.
The 19-year-old was there with his dad Shahzada Dawood, a 48-year-old Pakistant billionaire businessman.
Azmeh Dawood, the older sister of Shahzada Dawood told NBC News that Suleman had previously told a relative that he “wasn’t very up for it” and felt “terrified” about the journey.
But the 19-year-old went on the trip because it fell over Father’s Day and he wanted to please his dad, she said.
“I am thinking of Suleman, who is 19, in there, just perhaps gasping for breath … It’s been crippling, to be honest,” Azmeh said.
Upon hearing the news all passengers were believed to be dead, Azmeh said she felt “disbelief”.
“It’s an unreal situation,” she said.
“I personally have found it kind of difficult to breathe thinking of them.
“I never thought I would have an issue with drawing breath.
“It’s been unlike any experience I’ve ever had.”
Shahzada and Suleman were members of the Dawood dynasty, owners of an industrial empire in Pakistan.
On Thursday, the Dawood Foundation, a charity run by the family, said in a statement: “It is with profound grief that we announce the passing of Shahzada and Suleman Dawood.
“Our beloved sons were aboard OceanGate’s Titan submersible that perished underwater.
“Please continue to keep the departed souls and our family in your prayers during this difficult period of mourning.”
The University of Strathclyde said it offered deepest condolences to the family.
Professor Sir Jim McDonald, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Strathclyde, said: “The staff and students of Strathclyde have been shocked and profoundly saddened by the death of Suleman Dawood and his father in this tragic incident.
“The entire University community offers our deepest condolences to the Dawood family and all of those affected by this terrible accident.
"Our Student Wellbeing team is on hand to offer appropriate support to Suleman’s Strathclyde classmates and the wider community at this difficult time.”
