Titanic Survivor Sinks In Debt

Millvina McLean is the last living survivor of the Titanic and, at 96 years old, she has been forced to auction off her valuable Titanic souvenirs to pay for her nursing home. Mark Phillips reports.

The ship was brand new and so was Millvina Dean, just 2 months old, the youngest passenger on the Titanic.

"And this is your mother and you."

"Yeah."

But 96 years old Millvina, the last living Titanic survivor needs the luck now she had then.

"I was too small, so I was put in a sack."

"In a sack."

"Yep, and put overboard into the lifeboat."

Mother and daughter were saved, so was her brother. Her father perished. But now Millvina needs another rescue, like a lot of people, she's going broke.

"I don't know have how much you think I have to pay here a month, have a guess."

"I wouldn't aware, ur... 500 pounds."

"3000."

About 5000 dollars for her keep at this nursing home. Millvina is having to auction off her Titanic souvenirs, the suitcase given to her family in New York, the letter offering compensation from the Titanic victim’s fund, a few prints. But another rescue may be at hand. As her story spread, people decided to help. A printer in the // Virginia.

"I really felt that this was a, this was something that could really pay lasting tribute to all the people who died on the Titanic."

"I // materialistic, (right.) not the slightest bit, I'm I am now."

Millvina Dean, a survivor then, a survivor now. Mark Phillips, CBS News, Southampton, England.