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Titanic steward Sidney Daniels who saved numerous lives and survived by climbing on to an upturned lifeboat has been hailed a hero by his children.

When disaster struck the brave 18-year-old roused dozens of sleeping passengers and helped launch a lifeboat that saved 24 people.

He then leaped from the doomed liner into the icy sea and later clambered on to the capsized vessel.

He would go on to wed, have seven kids and die in 1983, aged 89.

Now five of his children, thought to be the only living offspring of a crewman survivor, have pledged to honour his memory on April 15, the 100th anniversary of the tragedy.

Son Richard Daniels, 76, of ­Portsmouth, told how his family were incredibly proud of Sidney.

“It was a long time before Dad was able to talk about what happened. He used to have nightmares about it,” he said.

“One day he bought a picture of the Titanic from an antique shop which seemed to open him up.”

(Image: Solent)

(Image: Solent)

Sidney was picked to be a Titanic steward after impressing bosses on its sister ship RMS Olympic.

Richard said: “Dad’s steward’s uniform was impeccable. He had to make sure the rooms were spotless and the passengers well cared for.

“He looked after Ida Straus, who refused to board a lifeboat without husband Isidor. The couple died together on the ship.”

A night watchman woke Sidney on the fateful night and sent him to the lifestation.

The crew thought it was a drill until they were told to lower lifeboats. Richard said: “Sidney was told to wake the passengers in his care and get them on deck.”

But when he had done his job and was back on deck there was only a collapsible lifeboat left. He helped cut it free but it bobbed over the rail with no one on board.

(Image: Solent)

(Image: Solent)

“His superiors told him ‘jump now, lad. There’s nothing here.’ He looked over the rail in to the pitch black icy water but was too petrified to jump.

“But he knew it was the only way and leaped off and began swimming from the boat.

“He made for a shape in the distance which turned out to be the collapsible lifeboat. It was upturned and had two dozen survivors on it.

“He got on and was about to fall asleep when someone on said ‘if you fall asleep, son, it will be your last.’

“The man next to him died and another clung on to Dad’s leg.”

Sidney’s daughter, Jean Legg, 73, added: “When he was swimming he followed a single star as he thought it was a sign from his late mum.

"We are very proud of how dad acted on the Titanic.”