The story of the last survivor on Titanic: Drinking for fun when the ship sank, escaping like an action movie

Thanks to his incredible courage and calmness, the Titanic's chief baker survived nearly three hours submerged in the cold North Atlantic.

Charles Joughin was believed to be the last person on board the Titanic when it sank into the frigid waters of the North Atlantic on April 15, 1912. Yet somehow, the ship's chief baker survived hours in subzero temperatures until he found a lifeboat. What allowed the baker to remain so calm and survive one of the greatest disasters in history?

Disaster strikes

Born in Birkenhead, England in 1878, Charles Joughin was fascinated by the call of the sea from an early age. Following in the footsteps of his two older brothers, who had joined the Royal Navy, Joughin began working on ships at the age of 11.

Joughin's maritime career eventually landed him a position on the RMS Titanic, the world's largest and most luxurious ship in the early 20th century. He was serving as chief baker when the legendary ship struck an iceberg on the evening of April 14, 1912.

Charles Joughin.

Awakening from the violent impact after the ship shook, Joughin saw the scene of the ship's crew panicking, in disarray and without a leader. Instead of panicking, he immediately realized what had happened and began to take control of the situation.

The first thing he did when he knew he was facing Death was to ask his bakers to bring more than 50 loaves of bread onto the deck to ensure that everyone on the lifeboat would have food until they were rescued.

As cold water poured into the ship and most of the crew panicked, Charles Joughin calmly returned to his room and took a drink. After regaining his composure, he made his way to his designated lifeboat. But instead of entering, he helped a group of men get women and children into the boat. By this time, the ship had almost run out of lifeboats.

Having given up his 'right to survive' , the baker returned to the room once more, seemingly unfazed by the sight of water flooding the cabin. He then returned above and began throwing folding chairs into the sea, hoping that those unlucky enough to not make it to the lifeboats would be able to cling to them and survive.

The moment when Titanic sank into the sea.

After finally returning to the deck for a glass of water, Joughin said he heard "a crashing sound like something was buckling ." It was actually the sound of the Titanic breaking in two due to the immense pressure.

Although the moment was terrifying for all those left on board, Joughin later said that for him, it was "not a big shock or anything".

Joughin immediately went to the stern and clung to the railing. In the final moments as the ship sank, he tightened his lifeline, took some items from his pocket and stood calmly wondering what to do next.

At around 2:20 a.m., the remaining half of the Titanic turned upright and plunged into the abyss, with Joughin among those trapped on board.

Surviving in the Cold Waters

For most people, entering water at -2°C would cause immediate cold shock. As Charles Lightoller, the Titanic's second officer, recalled: 'When I hit the water, it felt like a thousand knives were stabbing me.'

In fact, this immediate shock and the ensuing panic were enough to cause many people to drown within minutes, or lose so much body heat that they could not survive for long.

But that was not the case for Joughin. The brave baker dove headfirst into the water with his signature calm demeanor. Joughin remained afloat for two and a half hours in the freezing darkness. Finally, as the first rays of sunlight appeared, he spotted a capsized lifeboat and headed toward it.

Unfortunately, the boat had about 25 people on it and there was no room for Joughin. However, a short time later, he spotted another lifeboat with space and was eventually pulled out of the icy water.

Not long after, the Titanic survivors were rescued by another ship, the RMS Carpathia. Apart from a swollen foot, the baker showed no signs of injury after being in the water for so long.

Titanic survivors prepare to board the RMS Carpathia.

Charles Joughin's Life After Titanic

For many, surviving a horrific shipwreck that claimed the lives of more than a thousand people is a lifelong experience. Most never set foot on a ship again. But Charles Joughin was different. When World War I broke out, he joined the Navy and went right back to baking at sea.

After a lifetime of adventures on the high seas, he died in 1956 at the age of 78. His character was later featured in the 1958 film A Night to Remember and the 1997 blockbuster Titanic.

Charles Joughin appeared in the movie Titanic.

To this day, it is still unclear exactly how Joughin survived. But the most likely explanation is simple: a courageous attitude, not panicking, and making smart decisions like staying out of the water until the last moment may have been the key to his survival .