Man dies in attempt to rescue Toronto mystery writer

Last Updated: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 | 11:08 AM ET

CBC News

A man died after jumping into the ocean at Cocoa Beach, Fla., to help rescue Canadian mystery novelist Maureen Jennings.

Jennings, of Toronto, was swimming with her husband, photographer Iden Ford, when she became caught Monday in rip currents and found she could not get back to shore.

Ford ran for help.

Several people went into the water to try to help Jennings, including Fred Hunt, 51, of Burwick, Maine.

Lifeguards found Hunt floating without a pulse after Jennings had made it back to shore.

Jennings was shaken by the experience.

"I'm very upset," she said. "I got in trouble and he just bravely said, 'I'll get her.' He was bringing me in. Then he just let go. I just feel terrible."

Cocoa Beach, south of Cape Canaveral on the east coast of Florida, has seen high winds and rough surf for the past week.

Those weather conditions can result in rip currents.

Jennings is author of seven novels involving Detective Murdoch including Except the Dying and Night's Child and two novels about forensic profiler Christine Morris.