What happened to the Lindells?

[Arun Vajpey]

There is a certain amount of uncertainty about what actually happened to Titanic victim couple Edvard and Elin Lindell. Most accounts list them as having died on board the waterlogged Collapsible A, but did both or even one of them actually manage to get int the lifeboat? Here on ET, it says that Edvard Lindell managed to climb aboard but despite his and August Wennerstrom's efforts, they were unable to drag Elin inside. But I have read other accounts where it says that Elin Lindell never made it as far as the boat and it was Edvard Lindell who Wennerstrom was trying to help but in vain.

Does anyone have more information about their fate?

 

[Cam Houseman]

Not really, unfortunately, besides what you already know.

We only know that Edvard climbed into Collapsible A, but died shortly after they failed to get his wife. Elin swam to collapsible A but she floated away
I think Mr. Wennerstrom described Edvard's eyebrows and hair being covered in ice and staring, non seeing.

Maybe Edvard died because they could not get his wife in too, and just gave up?

 

[Arun Vajpey]

Maybe Edvard died because they could not get his wife in too, and just gave up?

Given the circumstances, I think it is highly likely.

I recall reading somewhere (probably Wyn Craig wade's book) that the Lindells were hanging on to the rails on the starboard side when Collapsible A was finally manhandled down from the roof of the officers' Quarters to the boat deck. But due to the port list, they were unable to drag the lifeboat uphill into position to be launched. When the 'wave' hit them. the Lindells apparently slid towards Collapsible A just as Steward Brown cut the last of the falls and the boat floated free. Edvard Lindell ended up partially inside the boat but not Elin. She hung onto the sides of the boat but neither Edvard Lindell nor August Wennerstrom were able to pull her on board. Eventually they let her go and she drifted away.

If true, that must have been a shatteringly traumatic experience for her husband and he would have lost all will to live.

But that's just one of the variations of the Lindells' fate. I have read other possibilities but at the moment cannot recall the sources.