I came across this doing some research. Does anyone know anything about this man? Did he ever write a book about his adventure and luck of not being on Titanic when it sunk?

Hiding under the mailbags on one of the tenders was one of Titanic's fireman, John Coffey, an absconder, whose home was listed as Queenstown on the crew's signing on sheets. He came ashore, and must have felt like the luckiest men in the world when the reports of Titanic's demise began to filter through.

It has been assumed that he probably signed on at Southampton just to get a free ride home.

7th officer,
Thanks, but I still think he could have written an account about it? don't you.
Afterall he did get off before Titanic sank and could have written about the ship and/or his trip

I believe he did write about it--or was more likely interviewed and was written about--but he didn't have enough to say for a book or anything like that--just a newspaper article. I understand that when he split he happened to take the key to the crow's nest locker with him...(there went the binoculars)....
That key is pictured in several publications with his name associated.

Actually, when reading what I wrote above--and I was just being facitious about the binoculars--I thought I'd better clarify. It was the original second officer David Blair who inadvertantly took the key. When Wilde showed up just before departure and bumped Murdock down, who in turn bumped Lightoller from first officer to second, that bumped Blair from second--he didn't like it and decided to leave Titanic for a different assignment--it was HE who took the key to the cabinet in the second officer's cabin which contained the binoculars.
Just wanted to set the record of fact straight here.
Incidently, if the binoculars were felt to be really needed, the cabinet could have been easily forced--the mistake (if there was one) was in the decision, not the unavailability.

7th Officer, You do not know where that article is printed, available do you? I would love to read it. Is it in any books? I have read about the key/binoculars situation.

Nope, sorry. I just figure he must have told his story to a paper--everyone else did! More reason is the fact that he is so well known. He is always referred to in most books so their sources must be from somewhere.
Too bad ET is down, I'd bet they have something on him.

7th Officer,
thanks guess that calls for some researc here<LOL>

Mr John Coffey
He was born on Thursday 3rd January 1889
When the Titanic sank John Coffey was aged 23 years

He was married.

He lived in Southampton Hampshire England

Occupation: Fireman / Stoker

He signed-on to the Titanic Engine crew at Southamptonand disembarked at Queenstown

He died on Wednesday 12th June 1957.

thanks teamtuna,
for the info on John Coffey