In the aftermath of the tragic loss of five explorers aboard the Titan submersible - including businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman - a close family friend refutes the claims that 19-year-old Suleman was "terrified" about the expedition.
Following the loss of the father and son, the teen's aunt claimed that Suleman had reservations about the voyage, but proceeded with the trip to please his dad for Father's Day.
OceanGate, the firm that orchestrated the expedition, and the US Coast Guard confirmed the devastating news that all five men aboard the submersible had tragically lost their lives due to a "catastrophic implosion".
The submersible had been on deep-sea dive to explore the Titanic shipwreck, 12,500ft below the ocean's surface.
The list of lost explorers includes Hamish Harding, Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Stockton Rush, the CEO of OceanGate, alongside the father-son duo, Shahzada and Suleman.
Azmeh Dawood, Suleman's aunt, spoke to NBC News after the tragedy and said her nephew wasn't thrilled about the journey, but acquiesced to his father's enthusiasm about the legendary shipwreck.
However, Osman Waheed - a longtime friend of the Dawood family - has now spoken out about the aunt's comments, saying that he finds it improbable that the family would have disregarded Suleman's concerns.
In a conversation with Peter Cardwell of TalkTV, Waheed described Suleman as an adventurous individual, just like his father. He fondly recalled Suleman's playful spirit, always climbing trees and running barefoot in the garden.
"The love they have for each other and the shared reverence with which they treated each other," Waheed said, explaining the relationship dynamic in the Dawood family, one of mutual respect and close-knit bonds. It was a household where they could joke with one another and share their thoughts openly.
"Shahzada and Christine would make fun of each other, the kids would make fun of the parents. But they had a really close relationship in which they could say anything to each other," Waheed said.
The family friend added: "So there is no world I could imagine in which Suleman would express this kind of reservation and Shahzada and Christine would not listen - I just really don’t see that happening."
Shahzada Dawood, one of Pakistan's wealthiest men, lived in the UK with Suleman, his wife Christine, and daughter Alina.
In an emotional recount of the current situation, Mr. Dawood's sister confessed to NBC News about her disbelief and shock. "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," she said.
Meanwhile, the search for the reasons behind the tragedy continues.
Per News.com.au, the US Coast Guard announced that the vessel's implosion led to the immediate loss of all passengers as they descended to explore the Titanic's 111-year-old remains. The debris located on the ocean found some 0.48 km from the RMS Titanic floor suggests a sudden catastrophic pressure chamber failure.
The exact causes of the catastrophe remain uncertain and any future plans for the recovery of the bodies have not been detailed by the Coast Guard.
Following the tragedy, OceanGate expressed its sorrow in a statement, which read: "Our hearts are with these five souls and every member of their families during this tragic time. We grieve the loss of life and joy they brought to everyone they knew."
