Family were told days ago of father and son's deaths 'hand in hand' on Titanic submarine

'The entire family is grappling with an immense sense of loss'

-  Emily Braeger

THE family of the father and son who died on the Titan submersible were told about the deaths days before they were formally announced, it has been claimed believe They Shahzada Dawood, 48, and son Suleman, 19, were "hand in hand" when they lost their lives on the vessel as it dived on the wreck of the Titanic.

The US Coast Guard had announced the deaths of the five men aboard the sub on Thursday afternoon.

But Hammad Hassan, 28, a close friend of Shahzada, told Daily Express US the tragedy was broken to him "two days ago" through Shahzada's cousin.

Hammad said: "The news of the tragedy came to me two days ago through Shahzada's cousin and my partner in Lean in Pakistan, Tara Uzma Dawood.

"It was a shocking and devastating revelation." A statement on behalf of the Dawoods said: "With profound sorrow, we mourn the tragic loss of Shahzada and his beloved son, Suleman, who had embarked on a journey to visit the remnants of the legendary Titanic.

"In this unfathomable tragedy, we try to find solace in the enduring legacy of humility and humanity that they have left behind and find comfort in the belief that they passed on to the next leg of their spiritual journey hand in hand, father and son.

"The pair were each other's greatest supporters and cherished a shared passion for adventure and exploration of all the world had to offer them.

"By being as they were with one another, they embodied valuable lessons on the pursuit of knowledge, exploration of the unknown, and bonds of familial friendship.