Lifeguard fired for helping save drowning man
Published Jul 5 2012, 16:33 BST | By Alice Stewart
© stock.xchng
Tomas Lopez heard that a man was in trouble in an unguarded section of Hallandale Beach, north of Miami, and so ran to save him.
However, his bosses said that his actions meant that he broke company rules which could have put other swimmers at risk.
Lopez was then asked to leave his $8.25-an-hour (£5.30) job but he does not regret his decision, adding to CBS television: "I think it's ridiculous, honestly, that a sign is what separates someone from being safe and not safe."
The 21-year-old lifeguard ran quite a distance to help the drowning man but he had already been pulled out of the water by some other beachgoers. His actions did prove useful, however, as he and an off-duty nurse aided the man until paramedics reached the scene.
The man is now said to be in intensive care in hospital.
After hearing that Lopez was fired, at least two of his colleagues have resigned in protest.
> Penguins get Olympic diving board: video
> Drunk men steal penguin from Sea World, swim with dolphins - watch
Reality check ok.My great aunt was a leading light in the St Johns Ambulance Brigade with medals of service. She came across a big crowd around a young boy pulled out of the river and with all the people there helping she left. She found out later that the boy died as noone knew how to give the kiss of life.
My great aunt threw her medals away.
Life saving is life saving. Rules are to be treated with intelligence. The guy can walk proud for the rest of his life for his actions the firm can run away in shame for eternity.
July 8th 2012 at 9:53pm
I could understand him being fired if someone DID get in trouble on his beach when he was helping out the man, but the fact is there wasn't an incident. America's all about 'but this could have happened', well it didn't so no harm, no foul. Maybe a warning for leaving his post would have been sufficient.
July 8th 2012 at 1:49pm
to be fair he did walk out on his job and if someone on the beach he is employed to guard had needed him he wouldnt have been there - so the company has the right to fire him even if he would have saved the person drowning
July 6th 2012 at 9:01pm
It's called being a decent human being.
July 7th 2012 at 4:11pm(+1 like)
Ill add my condemnation to the company.But note the pay scale not exactly tremendous pay. But can also understand the companys attitude as if someone got into difficulties whilst he was rescuing and assisting someone they would be liable for not providing the rescue service payed for and could be sued for millions.
So lesson to be learnt is this dont let us become such a sick country as America where lawyers get rich by killing people with rules and contracts. The rest of us are caring and compassionate lawyers are detestable scum. Well especially the American versions,
July 6th 2012 at 9:52am
appalling! he did a good thing
July 5th 2012 at 11:11pm