Michigan man drowns in rough surf off Cocoa Beach

COCOA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- A Michigan man who got caught up in rough surf and rip currents drowned Tuesday, authorities said.

Edward Hooker, 69, of Sterling Heights, Mich., was pulled to shore by witnesses about 1:30 p.m., rescue officials said. He was transported to Cape Canaveral Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Hooker and his wife had been in Florida since Christmas and planned to go home this weekend, his son Jeffrey Hooker told Florida Today of Melbourne via telephone from Michigan.

Four people who jumped in the water to try and save Hooker had to be rescued by members of the Cocoa Beach Fire Department and Brevard County Ocean Rescue, said Ocean Rescue Chief Wyatt Werneth.

"As soon as I brought one person back, I had to rescue another one," Werneth said.

Rough surf conditions were expected for the next several days, said forecaster Tony Cristaldi of the National Weather Service in Melbourne.

"The weather patterns strongly favor rip currents," Cristaldi said.

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