The water temperature when the Titanic sank on the night of April 15, 1912, was approximately 28°F (-2°C). This temperature is just below the freezing point of freshwater but remained liquid because of the salt content in seawater
. This extremely cold water was lethal to those who ended up in the ocean, as it caused rapid onset of cold shock and hypothermia, leading to many deaths. Survivors and museum recreations have shown how unbearable the cold was, with people only able to endure the icy water for a few seconds before the cold became overwhelming
. The cold water was a major factor contributing to the high fatality rate, as hypothermia would have set in quickly, often before drowning could occur
