The Associated Press is reporting that a U.S. man, Fred Hunt of Burwick, Maine, died on Monday rescuing Canadian mystery writer Maureen Jennings, who was swimming off the Florida coast with her husband.

“I’m very upset,” said Ms. Jennings, who managed to make it to shore with the man’s help.

“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.”

Jennings is the author of nine novels. Her Detective Murdoch mysteries, set in Victorian Toronto, are being adapted for a TV miniseries set to air on Bravo in 2008.