Step 1 : Introduction to the question " Matthew Webb, the first man to swim the English channel, met his death attempting which other aquatic feat? "
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Captain Matthew Webb (1848-1883) is the first recorded person to successfully swim the English Channel, swimming from Dover on the Kent Coast in England, to Calais on the Northern coast of France, in less than 22 hours. Needless to say, the feat brought him great celebrity, and acclaim on both sides of the Channel.
Sadly, he was to lose his life attempting another swim that had been deemed impossible - crossing the Whirlpool Rapids under the Niagara Falls.
Webb was the son of a surgeon, and one of 14 children. He learnt to swim as a child in the River Severn in Western England. He relished being on the water, as well as in it, and joined the Merchant Navy whilst still in his teens. Later, he worked for the shipping line Cunard, and attracted attention by saving the life of a passenger who had fallen overboard. He rose up the ranks, and became captain of the "Emerald". However, his sights were already on attempting a channel crossing. His first attempt failed, but the second one proved successful, and in 1875 he finally reached his goal. He became a competitive swimmer, but this was blighted when he was accused of cheating.
In 1883 he crossed the Atlantic to embark on his fateful final adventure. On the 24th of July that year, he was killed attempting to cross the Whirlpool Rapids. He was buried in a cemetery near the falls, but a memorial was erected to him in his home town.
More Info:
en.wikipedia.org
Step 2 : Answer to the question " Matthew Webb, the first man to swim the English channel, met his death attempting which other aquatic feat? "
Swimming the Straits of Gibraltar:
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