Thrilling Descent in Darkness: Titan Five's Last Hours Revealed as Crew Saves Battery, OceanGate Boss's London Trip Reassures Victims' Family

The ill-fated Titan submersible, carrying a group of five passengers, including three British individuals, experienced a haunting final chapter as it descended into darkness, accompanied by music and the mesmerizing sight of bioluminescent creatures. The wife of one of the victims recently shared their poignant story.

Their dive to explore the Titanic wreckage commenced at 8 a.m. on June 18. However, tragedy struck just one hour and 45 minutes later at 9:45 a.m. when all contact was suddenly lost.

Later investigations by the U.S. Navy revealed that an implosion had occurred at that precise moment. Five days subsequently, remnants of the submersible were discovered on the seabed, 1,600 feet away from the Titanic.

The passengers aboard the ill-fated vessel were Stockton Rush, the CEO of the company behind the expedition, aged 61; P.H. Nargeolet, a 77-year-old French Titanic expert; Hamish Harding, a British billionaire adventurer, aged 58; and Shahzada Dawood, aged 48, along with his 19-year-old son Suleman Dawood. They all met their unfortunate demise instantaneously, without any inkling of the impending disaster.

According to Christine Dawood, the wife of Shahzada and mother of Suleman, their journey almost didn't come to fruition. The Dawood family, hailing from Surrey, had initially flown to Toronto on June 14. However, their flight to St. John's, where they were to join the expedition, was unexpectedly canceled, affording them an extra day to explore the city. The following day, their flight was further delayed, causing them to worry about the possibility of missing the trip entirely. In hindsight, Mrs. Dawood expressed that she wished they had indeed missed it.

Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood

Accompanied by their daughter Alina, aged 17, the Dawoods eventually arrived at the harbor in St. John's during the midnight hours of June 15, where they embarked on the mothership, Polar Prince, bound for the dive site.

Mrs. Dawood recalled the briefings held at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., which featured scientific discussions and talks about the expedition and the Titanic wreckage. The participants were advised to wear thick socks and a hat to combat the potential cold at such depths. Furthermore, they were instructed to follow a low-residue diet the day before the dive, with a strict prohibition on coffee the morning of the descent. As for restroom facilities, there was only a bottle or a camp-style toilet behind a curtain.

To lighten the atmosphere and provide some entertainment during the journey, the passengers were encouraged to load their favorite music onto their phones, which would be played through a Bluetooth speaker. However, country music was strictly banned by Rush, the CEO. The passengers were informed that the descent would be pitch black since the headlights would be turned off to preserve battery power for when they reached the seabed. However, they were promised the captivating sight of bioluminescent creatures. This prospect thrilled Shahzada Dawood, who eagerly anticipated the adventure like an excited child.

The Dawood family's fascination with the Titanic began after visiting an exhibition in Singapore during the ship's centenary in 2012. Their interest grew further during a trip to Greenland in 2019, where they encountered awe-inspiring glaciers that eventually transformed into icebergs.

After discovering an advertisement for OceanGate, Mrs. Dawood initially planned to embark on the journey with her husband. However, due to pandemic-related delays, their plans were postponed, and by the time they were ready, Suleman had come of age and was eligible to take part. In preparation, the teenager brought along a Rubik's Cube, aiming to set a new world record for solving it underwater.

Although Rush and his wife Wendy, who resided in London, flew to brief the Dawood family on the trip, the technical aspects of the expedition remained somewhat unclear to them. Mrs. Dawood likened it to sitting in an airplane without comprehending the mechanics of the engine. Nevertheless, they were all swept up in the allure of the adventure.

Mrs. Dawood recounted how her husband eagerly absorbed the captivating stories shared by Nargeolet, one of the world's most distinguished Titanic experts, who was also among those who perished in the tragedy. Nargeolet regaled the group with tales of his 37 previous dives to the Titanic, including an incident where he was stranded underwater for three days with no means of communication. It was during this account that Shahzada turned to his wife and exclaimed, "Oh, my god, this is so cool." His enthusiasm for the subject matter was evident, his face radiating excitement as he delved into the nerdy details.

On the morning of June 18, the passengers were required to be on deck at 5 a.m. Mrs. Dawood marveled at the professionalism displayed by the crew during their preparations. She described the scene as a well-rehearsed operation, clearly indicating that the team had conducted these dives numerous times before. Both Suleman and Shahzada donned their OceanGate flight suits, along with waterproof trousers, orange jackets, steel-toed boots, life vests, and helmets. As part of the protocol, they were weighed and posed for a photograph, with Shahzada humorously expressing concern about his appearance.

Suleman proceeded down the stairs to board the motorized raft that would ferry the passengers to the floating platform where the Titan submersible was tethered. However, Shahzada faced some difficulty in navigating the stairs due to the cumbersome gear, necessitating additional assistance. Mrs. Dawood and Alina worried about the possibility of him accidentally falling into the water.

Once all five individuals had entered the submersible, the hatch was closed, and divers meticulously tightened the bolts. The crew then maneuvered the Titan underwater and released it from the platform, commencing what initially seemed like a promising morning.

However, later that morning, Mrs. Dawood overheard conversations about the loss of communication with the Titan. Concerned, she rushed to the bridge, where the team responsible for monitoring the descent was stationed. She was assured that intermittent communication disruptions were not uncommon and advised not to worry. In the event of any serious issues, the mission would be aborted, and the submersible would jettison the weights on board, ascending to the surface. Nevertheless, uncertainty loomed as nobody knew the Titan's exact whereabouts.

Mrs. Dawood spent her time onboard the mothership, anxiously gazing at the ocean, hoping to catch a glimpse of the submersible resurfacing. Five days later, the heartbreaking news arrived that debris from the submersible had been found, bringing an end to any glimmer of hope.

The voyage of the Titan submersible, which promised to be a thrilling exploration of the Titanic wreckage, tragically transformed into a tale of sorrow and loss. The story of the five passengers who experienced their final moments listening to music and witnessing the wonders of the deep sea will forever serve as a poignant reminder of the unpredictable nature of adventure and exploration.