These Are the 5 People Who Died in the Titan Submersible

This morning, it was confirmed that all the five people in the Titan submersible have died from the incident after it was revealed that the Titanic tour submersible has suffered a “catastrophic implosion”, whereby the submersible collapsed on itself due to the immense pressure exerted by the ocean pushing inward.

With each seat costing about USD$250,000, the five people in the Titan submersible aren’t just any ordinary tourists, but mostly powerful people who love exploring.

So, who are they?

These Are the 5 People Who Died in the Titan Submersible

Stockton Rush, 61

Stockton Rush, a prominent British entrepreneur, established OceanGate in 2009, where he has served as the CEO.

OceanGate is the company that owned the Titan submersible.

The 61-year-old’s focus has been on spearheading the creation of submersibles capable of descending up to 20,000 feet beneath the sea. Rush identified the potential of private sector investment and the application of contemporary materials to revolutionize and economically optimize deep-sea exploration, as per OceanGate’s official statement.

Married to a descendant of the ill-fated couple who perished on the Titanic, Rush has always held a fascination with the depths of the ocean.

In 1981, he achieved the distinction of becoming the world’s youngest jet transport rated pilot, at just 19 years of age, with flights to various international destinations like Cairo, Mumbai, and Zurich. He earned an aerospace engineering degree from Princeton University and an MBA from UC Berkeley.

In 1989, he ventured into experimental aviation with the development and successful flight of his own aircraft. His professional experiences also include serving on various boards and development teams for companies involved in sonar systems, software, remote controls, and at The Museum of Flight in Seattle.

Hamish Harding, 58

Hamish Harding, a seasoned aviation enthusiast, has served as the chairman of Action Aviation, a company specializing in aviation sales and consulting. His friend and retired NASA astronaut, Terry Virts, characterizes Harding as a “natural explorer”.

The 58-year-old made headlines in 2019 by breaking the Guinness world record for the fastest circumnavigation of the Earth across both poles. Virts was a part of Harding’s record-breaking crew. Harding also holds Guinness records for the longest stay at full ocean depth by a crewed vessel and the greatest distance traversed along the ocean’s deepest part.

Shahzada Dawood, 48

As the vice chairman of Engro, a Pakistani energy investment company, and Dawood Hercules Corp., an investment and holdings enterprise, Shahzada Dawood built a formidable reputation in mergers and acquisitions across various sectors, including textiles, fertilizers, foods, and energy.

The 48-year-old also held positions on several boards, such as the SETI Institute, a NASA-funded nonprofit focused on extraterrestrial research, and Prince’s Trust International, a charity organization led by Prince Charles. Dawood was an alumnus of Buckingham University, U.K., where he obtained his law degree, and Philadelphia University (now known as Thomas Jefferson University), where he earned a master’s of science in global textile marketing. He left behind his wife, Christine, and his daughter, Alina.

Suleman Dawood, 19

Suleman Dawood, the 19-year-old son of Shahzada Dawood, was a promising college student. After completing his first year as a business major at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, he showed great potential for carrying forward his father’s legacy.

Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77

Referred to as “Mr Titanic,” Paul-Henri Nargeolet, boasted a career rich in nautical expertise. After 22 years of service in the French navy, eventually achieving the rank of commander, Nargeolet retired in 1986.

Subsequently, the 77-year-old managed two deep-sea submersibles at the French Institute for Research and Exploitation of the Sea and was pivotal in the first recovery dive to the Titanic wreckage in 1987.

He held the position of director of underwater research for RMS Titanic Inc., a firm dedicated to preserving the Titanic’s legacy, and the E/M Group, an entertainment and exhibitions provider. Throughout his career, Nargeolet completed 37 submersible dives to the Titanic wreck and oversaw the retrieval of 5,000 artifacts, including a substantial 20-ton segment of the hull.

Born in Chamonix, France, Nargeolet spent a significant part of his childhood in Africa, living there for 13 years before relocating back to France at the age of 16.

You can read more about the Titan submersible incident here.