At 4:10pm the captain made contact again saying, "We are holding our own". Nothing more was ever heard from him or the 29 other crew. A search found some smashed lifeboats, life jackets and debris. The following year, the wreck itself was found and they discovered it had split in two.

There are theories about what happened – maybe the hatches were improperly closed, or it hit a rock. But the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, immortalised in song, remains a mystery to this day.

Liked this? Click the Like button above. And click the Follow button above for more great stories from loveEXPLORING

Now discover the beloved cruise ships that will never sail again

History's most tragic ships, and their heartbreaking stories