COCOA BEACH, Fla. – Canadian mystery novelist Maureen Jennings said she felt terrible that a man died while trying to rescue her from rip currents.

Jennings, of Toronto, was swimming Monday with her husband, photographer Iden Ford, when she could not get back to shore. Ford got out of the water and ran for help.

Ford said that when he returned, several people were in the water trying to help Jennings, including Fred Hunt, 51, of Berwick, Maine. Jennings made it back to shore shaken, but lifeguards found Hunt floating without a pulse, Deputy Fire Chief G.C. Wine said. He later was pronounced dead.

“I’m very upset,” Jennings 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.”

Wine said rough surf conditions and dangerous rip currents have been present in Cocoa Beach all week.