The late Fred Hunt Jr. of Berwick, who died last year while helping to save a woman from drowning in Cocoa Beach, Fla., was awarded a Carnegie Hero medal today.

Hunt, who was 51, will share the medal posthumously with Qemal Agaj, 65, of Tampa, Fla., who took part in the rescue.

Hunt died while trying to rescue Canadian mystery novelist Maureen Jennings from rip currents at Cocoa Beach, Fla., on Oct. 22, 2007.

Jennings, of Toronto, was swimming 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 Hunt. Jennings made it back to shore shaken, but lifeguards found Hunt floating without a pulse, Deputy Fire Chief G.C. Wine said.

Hunt was among 19 recipients nationwide to receive an award today from the Pittsburgh-based Carnegie Heroes Fund.

Steel baron Andrew Carnegie launched the hero fund in 1904 after hearing about rescue stories from a mine disaster that had killed 181 people. Since then, $31.1 million has been awarded to 9,243 people. Each recipient, or their heirs, receives $6,000 and a medal.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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