Matilda Bennett died attempting to save Joan Gibson and D. Celeste Kerr from drowning, Newport Beach, California, August 21, 1933. While Joan, 13, and Celeste, 14, were wading in the Pacific Ocean at a point 75 feet from shore, they lost their footing and drifted farther from the shore into deep water. Matilda, 15, schoolgirl, waded a step or two and then swam 20 feet to the two. Just before she reached them, an older girl swam to them. They grabbed the girl, and all three were briefly submerged. When Joan rose two feet from the others, Matilda took hold of her and tried to take hold of Celeste, but a wave separated them. The older girl and Celeste drifted farther from the shore. After a brief effort to aid Celeste, the older girl left and swam to wadable water. Celeste drifted at an angle farther from the shore, and Matilda, holding Joan, continued to try to swim to her. After drifting 250 feet, Matilda and Joan sank. Celeste threshed as she drifted and sank a few seconds after the others. All were drowned.
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