Teenager on sub took Rubik’s Cube to break record, mother tells
According to his mother, Suleman Dawood took his Rubik’s Cube with him because he wanted to break a world record.
In addition to applying to the Guinness World Records, the 19-year-old’s father, Shahzada, had brought a camera to capture the moment.
When word came through that communications with the Titan had been lost, Christine Dawood and her daughter were aboard the Polar Prince, the sub’s support vessel.
Then, she said, “it all went downhill from there.” She did not understand what it meant at the time.
In her first interview, Mrs Dawood said she planned to visit the Titanic wreck with her husband, but the trip was cancelled due to the Covid outbreak.
She then backed off and gave them space to set [Suleman] up since he really wanted to go.
Besides Suleman and his father, Shahzada Dawood, three other people died on board: Stockton Rush, 61, the CEO of OceanGate, which owned the Titan, Hamish Harding, 58, and Paul-Henry Nargeolet, 77, a former French navy diver.
During an interview with Mrs Dawood, she mentioned that Suleman always carried around a Rubik’s Cube, solving it in 12 seconds to amaze onlookers.
He said, “I’ll solve the Rubik’s Cube at the Titanic, 3,700 metres below sea level.”
He attended Glasgow’s University of Strathclyde. In addition to being British, Shahzada Dawood was from one of the richest families in Pakistan.
Father’s Day was a memorable day for the family, including 17-year-old daughter Alina.
Her husband and son hugged and made jokes before boarding the Titan submersible, according to Mrs Dawood.
So far, what we know about the sub’s accident
There was a tragic end to Stockton Rush’s rule-breaking, maverick spirit
Here is how the Titan’s loss unfolded
Both of them wanted to do that for a very long time, she said.
According to Mrs. Dawood, her husband was infectiously curious about the world, watching documentaries after dinner with the family.
She said he had this ability to excite like a child.
As the search and rescue mission evolved from hopeful to desperate, Mrs Dawood and her daughter remained aboard the Polar Prince.
The 96-hour mark is when I lost hope, Mrs Dawood said.
Her family received a message at that time, she said. I lost hope when I said, ‘I’m prepared for the worst.'”
Alina held out for a little longer. After the Coast Guard called, she didn’t lose hope. They told us that debris had been found.
After returning to St John’s on Saturday, the family held a funeral prayer for Shahzada and Suleman on Sunday. She expressed her gratitude to the Imam for praying for all five men.
Click here to watch the interview in its entirety
It is her intention to continue her husband’s work, so she and her daughter will learn how to complete the Rubik’s Cube in honour of Suleman.
My father was involved in so many things and helped so many people… I think it’s very important for my daughter that I continue that legacy and give him that platform.”
Dawood declined to discuss the ongoing investigation. “Is there such a thing as closure? I don’t know,” she replied, when asked how she and her daughter might find it.
It’s been a while,” she said, taking a deep breath. The people I miss are really, really important to me.”
