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‘I was gradually getting frozen up, and by the grace of God I came across a lifeboat and they pulled me in.’

Those were the words of Titanic survivor Frank Prentice, speaking 67 years after the ship sank on this day in April 1912 with the loss of more than 1,500 passengers and crew.  

Mr Prentice, then just 23, was serving as assistant purser on the ship when it fatefully hit an iceberg. 

He told BBC documentary series The Great Liners in 1979: ‘There was no impact as such.

‘It was just like jamming your brakes on the car and that was that – she stopped. 

‘We had a porthole open and I looked out and the sky was clear, stars were shining, the sea was dead calm and I thought, I couldn’t understand it.’

‘I was gradually getting frozen up, and by the grace of God I came across a lifeboat and they pulled me in.’ Those were the words of Titanic survivor Frank Prentice, speaking 67 years after the ship sank on this day in April 1912 with the loss of more than 1,500 passengers and crew

RMS Titanic departing Southampton on April 10, 1912. The vessel was sailing to New York on its maiden voyage

After the Titanic hit the iceberg, Mr Prentice left his cabin to investigate.

But there was no sign of damage because the point of impact had been below the waterline. 

Unbeknown to him, the ship was catastrophically crippled and sank within three hours of the collision.

Despite an order for women and children to get into the lifeboats, many were reluctant because of the 70foot drop into the water and their faith in the ship’s status as an ‘unsinkable’ vessel.

As a result, many more people lost their lives than if all 16 lifeboats had been filled to capacity.

Mr Prentice said: ‘Don’t forget we had 16 lifeboats and they each carried 50, and if they’d been filled we could’ve saved 800 whereas we only saved 500.’

Describing the moment the Titanic broke in two, he added: ‘All of a sudden, she lifted up quickly and you could hear everything crashing through her.’

The caption of the Titanic, Edward Smith (pictured) tragically died the night the Titanic went down

The ship tragically sank within three hours of the collision. Pictured: American passenger businessman Benjamin Guggenheim whose body was never found

As half of the ship rose out of the water, Mr Prentice was clinging on to a board. He realised that he had no option but to let go and plunge into the freezing water.

‘I had a lifebelt on and I hit the water with a terrific crack,’ he said. As bodies floated ‘all over the place’, Mr Prentice watched the ship disappear beneath the water.

Mr Prentice escaped death when he was pulled from the water into a lifeboat. 

He found himself sat next to Virginia Estelle Clark, who he had helped with her lifejacket on deck. 

Newly-married Ms Clark, who was on her honeymoon, had been persauded by Mr Prentice to leave her new husband Walter behind and get into a lifeboat. 

Ms Clark had asked Mr Prentice if he had seen her husband but it later emerged he had died.

Mr Prentice believed the woman had probably saved his life by wrapping a cloak around him.

‘I saved hers – I think I might have done, I think I did, and she saved mine,’ he said.

Along with the rest of the survivors, the pair were rescued by the RMS Carpathia, which was nearly 60 miles away when it picked up the Titanic’s distress call.

The survivors were carried to safety in New York, where an initial inquiry into the disaster was held. 

Mr Prentice escaped death when he was pulled from the water into a lifeboat

The RMS Titanic was the largest ship afloat at the time and is pictured setting off on its voyage in 1912

Mr Prentice died in 1982 at the age of 93. For the rest of his life he kept the watch he had been carrying on the day the Titanic sank.

It was frozen in time at 2.20am, the time it fell into the water. 

‘It was frozen up like I was – I think it lasted for about 20 minutes in the water,’ Mr Prentice said.

He admitted that giving an interview about his ordeal meant he would probably ‘have another nightmare’.

‘You’d think I’m too old for that, but you’d be amazed. You lie in bed at night and the whole thing comes round again,’ he added. 

DISASTER IN THE ATLANTIC: HOW MORE THAN 1,500 LOST THEIR LIVES WHEN THE TITANIC SANK

The RMS Titanic sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on April 15, 1912, after colliding with an iceberg during her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York.

More than 1,500 people died when the ship, which was carrying 2,224 passengers and crew, sank under the command of Captain Edward Smith.

Some of the wealthiest people in the world were on board, including property tycoon John Jacob Astor IV, great grandson of John Jacob Astor, founder of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

Constructed by Belfast-based shipbuilders Harland and Wolff between 1909 and 1912, the RMS Titanic was the largest ship of her time

Millionaire Benjamin Guggenheim, heir to his family’s mining business, also perished, along with Isidor Straus, the German-born co-owner of Macy’s department store.

The ship was the largest afloat at the time and was designed in such a way that it was meant to be ‘unsinkable’.

It had an on-board gym, libraries, swimming pool and several restaurants and luxury first-class cabins.

There were not enough lifeboats on board for all the passengers due to out-of-date maritime safety regulations.

After leaving Southampton on April 10, 1912, Titanic called at Cherbourg in France and Queenstown in Ireland before heading to New York.

On April 14, 1912, four days into the crossing, she hit an iceberg at 11:40pm local time.

James Moody was on night watch when the collision happened and took the call from the watchman, asking him: ‘What do you see?’ The man responded: ‘Iceberg, dead ahead.’

By 2.20am, with hundreds of people still on board, the ship plunged beneath the waves, taking many, including Moody, with it.

Despite repeated distress calls being sent out and flares launched from the decks, the first rescue ship, the RMS Carpathia, arrived nearly two hours later, pulling more than 700 people from the water.

It was not until 1985 that the wreck of the ship was discovered in two pieces on the ocean floor. 

The police officer fiancé of a young woman who was killed in the stabbing rampage at Bondi Junction rushed to the shopping centre to help his colleagues, only to discover his wife-to-be was one of the victims. 

Dawn Singleton, 25 – who is the daughter of multi-millionaire advertising guru John Singleton – was due to marry her high school sweetheart, NSW Police Officer Ashley Wildey, in coming months. 

Ms Singleton’s life was tragically cut short, along with five other shoppers, when she was stabbed at Bondi Junction Westfield by Joel Cauchi, 40, on Saturday afternoon, while shopping for her wedding.

‘She’d just gone in to buy makeup at Chanel, she was only there for 15 minutes, looking at makeup for her wedding,’ a friend told the Daily Telegraph.

Mr Wildey, who was reportedly on call, scrambled to the shopping centre to assist police colleagues with the unfolding situation.

‘He had arrived at Westfield when officers realised his fiancée was one of the victims,’ a source told The Daily Telegraph.

Mr Wildey was then allowed to leave the scene to be comforted by family and friends, as is procedure.

Dawn Singleton (pictured left) was shopping for her wedding. Her fiancé Ashley Wildey (pictured right) rushed to the shopping centre to help his colleagues, only to discover his wife-to-be was one of the victims

John Singleton’s daughter Dawn, 25, has been named among six people murdered by knife wielding attacker Joel Cauchi at Bondi Junction Westfield on Saturday

Dawn is the oldest of three daughters to  John Singleton and his former wife Julie Martin (the couple pictured above)

Affectionately known as Dawnie, the 25-year-old is one of Singleton’s three daughters from his marriage to Julie Martin. He has eight children in total.

Last week, she bought her wedding dress and started sending out ‘save the date’ invitations to her loved ones and friends ahead of the special day. 

The tragic new details come as Australian fashion powerhouse White Fox Boutique paid tribute to Ms Singleton, who worked as the company’s e-commerce assistant.

‘Dawn was a sweet, kind-hearted person who had her whole life ahead of her,’ the company wrote on Instagram.

‘She was really amazing. We are all truly devastated by this loss.

‘We send our condolences to her partner, the Singleton family and her friends. She will always be remembered as part of the White Fox family.’ 

Ms Singleton was the second victim of the horrifying attack to be identified after it was revealed osteopath and first-time mother Ashlee Good, 38, had passed away in hospital on Saturday night.

Ms Good’s nine-month-old daughter was also injured in the attack and is in a serious but stable condition after undergoing emergency surgery overnight.

Double Bay architect and mother-of-two Jade Young was identified as a third victim of the attack on Sunday. 

Police were called to the shopping precinct at 3.20pm as Cauchi, brandishing a large hunting knife, chased after men, women and children.

Footage posted online shows terrified shoppers running outside to escape or taking shelter in shops as a siren blasted through the centre, urging shoppers to evacuate.

Inspector Amy Scott was patrolling nearby and was first on the scene. She entered the shopping centre by herself and bravely ran towards the offender, before shooting him dead when he lunged towards her with the knife.

Five other people – including Ms Singleton, Ms Young, two other women, and a man, aged in his 30s –  died at the scene. 

Twelve others – including Ms Good, her 9-month-old child, eight other women, and two men – suffering stab wounds, were treated by paramedics and taken to various Sydney hospitals.

Some have since been discharged while others remain in serious conditions. 

Assistant Commissioner Cooke said there were also several other people who were injured in the attack who left Westfield and later presented to medical centres. 

Joel Cauchi from Queensland is pictured carrying a 30cm hunting knife on the escalator inside Westfield shopping centre at Bondi Junction on Saturday afternoon

Addressing reporters on Sunday, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said it would take time to formally identify some of the victims of Saturday’s attack as their family members reside overseas.

Cauchi has since been identified as a Queensland man who moved to Sydney in recent months.

He suffered from schizophrenia and had a transient lifestyle, with police treating the tragedy as a mental-health related incident.

The shopping centre and surrounding streets remain closed on Sunday, while police continue to scour the crime scene for forensic evidence.

Police have launched a critical incident team comprised of homicide detectives and set up Strike Force Mcauley to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The investigation will also be subject to an independent review.

As investigations continue, any witnesses, anyone with information or mobile phone vision who has not yet spoken to police, is urged to call police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The mother of an eight-year-old boy who died after being hit by car while playing tag near the park on his street has paid tribute to her ‘bubbly and kind’ son who was ‘loved by everyone’.

Little Lennix had been playing with friends yesterday afternoon on a quiet Wiltshire cul-de-sac when he was tragically struck down.

His grandfather Nigel Sutcliffe was returning from the the shop at the time when he heard screams that a boy had been knocked over on Woodland View in Dilton Marsh.

Mr Sutcliffe, who works in a Tesco warehouse and has received first aid training for his role, raced over along with an off duty police officer and tried to give the schoolboy CPR but sadly he could not be saved.

Lennix’s mother Jackie Meredith told MailOnline today: ‘He was bubbly and kind, loved by everybody. He had so many wonderful friends. He had his birthday 2 weeks ago and had his whole life ahead of him.’

His grandfather, who was been diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma and been receiving chemotherapy, added: ‘I’m broken over it. My little shining star has gone. 

‘We had a strong bond and we will miss him. I can’t understand how something like this can happen.’

Lennix had been a pupil at Dilton Marsh primary school, just a stone’s throw away from the street he grew up on with his six-year-old brother. 

Little Lennix, 8, had been playing with friends yesterday afternoon on a quiet Wiltshire cul-de-sac when he was tragically struck down yesterday afternoon

Tonight a vigil will be held outside the play area in Dilton Marsh for Lennix as the street tries to come to terms with their loss

 Pictured: Police officers at the scene in Dilton Marsh yesterday afternoon following the tragedy 

Youngsters living in the area are said to be confused and unable to understand why Lennix won’t be at school on Monday. 

Stephen Bosson lives next to the the park and his grandchildren were also playing at the time.

He said: ‘The children were playing tag when they came running in saying a boy was under a car. An off duty police officer and neighbours gave him CPR. They had to try.

‘We’re shaken as a community. The children are confused and can’t understand why he’s not going to be in school on Monday.’

Another neighbour, who does not wish to be named, was mowing his lawn when he heard screaming and went out.

He said: ‘I saw 3 people trying to resuscitate him. I don’t know how the children are coping. They say one thing, then they’re all upset.’

Jackie said that the whole street had been supportive since the devastating accident.

Tonight a vigil will be held at 7pm outside the play area for Lennix as the street tries to come to terms with their loss. 

The location where the young boy was hit last night 

Amongst the tributes and flowers was a card from Lennix’s mother and fatehr 

Another from his aunty and uncle said: ‘To our little whirlwind. You literally fill out hearts as much as you do the room. Fly high angel. We love you so much’

This afternoon, photographs of Lennix, flowers and cards were placed on the fence outside the playpark, while tealights were placed on the floor.

A message from his mother and father read: ‘To my darling boy. Fly high superstar. Love you always mummy and daddy.’

Another from his aunty and uncle said: ‘To our little whirlwind. You literally fill out hearts as much as you do the room. Fly high angel. We love you so much.’ 

One written by a child read: ‘Will miss you forever best friend.’

Emergency services were called out to the crash at 4.30pm on Saturday with the road in the rural village being closed in the night.

The tragic scene saw Wiltshire Air Ambulance scramble to the road alongside other 999 responders but despite their best efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A man in his 30s is being interviewed, the police said, as ‘is usual in these circumstances’.

Tributes have flooded social media this morning, with many paying their respects tot the boys family.

One wrote: ‘What an sad news… fly high little man.. sending hug and love to his family and friends at this sad occasion.’ 

Witnesses to the collision or anyone with dash cam footage are being urged to contact the serious collision investigation team

The little boy’s family have been informed and is being supported by a specialist officer. Pictured: Officers on the quiet cul-de-sac 

Emergency services were called to a road traffic collision in Woodland View, Dilton Marsh at 4.30pm on Saturday. Pictured: Police offices at the scene 

Another said: ‘This is so very very sad. Sending my thoughts to his family at this most unimaginably awful time.’ 

‘Rest in paradise beautiful boy, thoughts are with the family,’ a third added, while a fourth wrote: ‘My condolences to the family, this is so tragic to read.’

The devastating collision happened in Dilton Marsh on the warmest day of the year so far.

The quiet village has a local pub, called The Prince of Wales, a pre-school and a primary school as well as a parent and toddler group. 

Woodland View is a small cul-de-sac with a few new build houses backing onto a large field. It is a close walk from both the primary and prep school. 

‘Our thoughts are with them at this extremely difficult time’, a Wiltshire Police spokesperson said.

‘A man in his 30s is being interviewed, as is usual in these circumstances,’ they added. 

Witnesses to the collision or anyone with dash cam footage are being urged to contact the serious collision investigation team on 01225 694597 quoting log number 218 of yesterday’s date (13/04).

Witnesses can also contact the team directly by emailing SCIT@wiltshire.police.uk.