How have billionaire Hamish Harding’s family paid tribute to the explorer after the Titanic sub implosion?

The family of British billionaire Hamish Harding have released a statement following the news that he, Shahzada Dawood, Suleman Dawood, OceanGate’s founder Stockton Rush and submersible pilot Paul-Henri Nargeolet, have died after the Titan sub endured a ‘catastrophic implosion.’

The media statement was released via Hamish Harding’s company Action Aviation on behalf of his family and the company. The statement said: “Today, we are united in grief with the other families who have also lost their loved ones on the Titan submersible.

"Hamish Harding was a loving husband to his wife and a dedicated father to his two sons, whom he loved deeply. To his team in Action Aviation, he was a guide, an inspiration, a support and a Living Legend.

He was one of a kind and we adored him. He was a passionate explorer-whatever the terrain-who lived his life for his family, his business and for the next adventure. What he achieved in his lifetime was truly remarkable and if we can take any small consolation from the tragedy, it’s that we lost him doing what he loved.”

The statement ended with the words “On behalf of the Harding family and Action Aviation, we would like to politely request privacy at this incredibly difficult time.”

NBC News reported that “Azmeh Dawood-the older sister of Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood-told NBC News that her nephew Suleman, informed a relative that he ‘wasn’t up very up for it’ and felt ‘terrified’ about the trip to explore the wreckage of the Titanic.”

The Dawood family released a statement on Thursday night. “Our beloved sons were aboard the OceanGate’s Titan submersible that perished underwater,” the statement said.

“Please continue to keep the departed souls of our family in your prayers during this difficult period of mourning.”

The statement ended with the following words: “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the other passengers on the Titan submersible. At this time, we are unable to receive calls and request that support, condolences, and prayers be messaged instead. Details of their final rites in this world will be announced soon.”

Shahzada Dawood had been an advisor to the international arm of the Prince's Trust, which was founded by King Charles (the then Prince of Wales) in 1976.

OceanGate released a statement on June 22, 2023 which read: “We now believe that our CEO Stockton Rush, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, Hamish Harding and Paul-Henri Nargeolet, have sadly been lost.

These men were true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world’s oceans. Our hearts are with these five souls and every member of their families during this tragic time. We grieve the loss of life and the joy they brought to everyone they knew.”

The last line of the statement read: “We respectfully ask that the privacy of these families be respected during the most painful time.”

The family of Paul-Henri Nargeolet have also released a statement and said that the former commander in the French navy will be remembered as “one of the greatest deep-sea explorers in modern history.”

“When you think of the Titanic and all we know about the ship today, you will think of Paul-Henri Nargeolet and his legendary work.

“But what we will remember him most for is his big heart, his incredible sense of humour and how much he loved his family.

“We will miss him today and every day for the rest of our lives.”