But the equipment was damaged, and many of the lifeboats immediately capsized, throwing soldiers into the high, icy sea.

She was being transferred onto a lifeboat for medical treatment when the stretcher she was on slipped and plunged into the icy sea.

Then, after diving into the icy sea, he remained calm enough to organise survivors as they clung to an upturned lifeboat before being rescued.

He describes the sensation as a very bright light, like the shock of jumping into an icy sea.

Many were injured, and some fled into the icy sea to escape their assailants.