Titanic survivor

[Wiirone]

Just been to see Titanic Exhibition at Belfast and was reminded of a tale my Grandmother used to tell me that a cook survived the sinking because his thick apron made from animal skin (fur?) helped save him from the icy waters. He apparently lived near the Shirley windmill near Croydon, England.
Not sure how a cook's apron could be that protective and I can find no reference to such a person from the passenger lists on the Internet so I have my doubts.
Perhaps it wasn't even the Titanic. Anyway, I thought I'd give Answerbank a try.
Thanks.

[jno]

there was a baker who survived, but nothing about an apron

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Joughin

having had a drink may have helped him not to feelt he cold

[heathfield]

There are a number of urban myths regarding Titanic survivors telling how they did it. Unless such events are documented as being factual, it's best to be cautious over their validity .

[Hopkirk]

Having a drink can actually speed up hypothermia, jno.

It can make you feel warmer in the short term, as it increases blood flow to the skin. However in cold water this heat is immediately removed from the body, chilling your core rapidly.

[jno]

I would have thought so too, Hopkirk. It might have deadened the shock on first hitting the water, perhaps.

[craft1948]

There was a cook survived from Shirley, but that was Shirley in Southampton, he was called Alfred Edgar Windebank.

[Wiirone]

Thanks everyone.
Craft1948 - I can just imagine someone in my family hearing the town 'Shirley' and thinking it was the nearby one so your offering seems to explain things. Thank you.

[Jennykenny]

If you get the chance, visit the Titanic Experience in Cobh (Cove), the port for Cork. Amazing, stunning, unbelievable.

[ummmm]

And Cobh is a stunning part of the world.