Horsehair and rushes – although the materials were light and buoyant, neither were waterproof nor durable enough for lifejackets. Woods such as baobab and balsa – the bark was successfully light and ...

This is the only surviving complete lifejacket, of this type, from the sinking. It was kept as a souvenir by a man from Cape Clear Island, off the southern coast of Ireland. Cunard offered cash ...