Florida lifeguard fired for rescuing drowning man

[cpvr]

The Lifeguard was only doing his job, and he gets fired for rescuing a drowning man? What type of rules do they have these days?

7 hrs ago
Blow your whistle on this one: A Hallandale Beach, Fla., lifeguard has been fired for rushing to rescue a drowning man. Apparently the company that hired him to help patrol the beach objected to the fact that he left his appointed zone to participate in the rescue. "We have liability issues and can't go out of the protected area," his supervisor told the Sun Sentinel newspaper. "What he did was his own decision. He knew the company rules." Tomas Lopez, 21, said he doesn't regret rushing to save the struggling man, even if it cost him his job. "Someone needed my help. I wasn't going to say no," he said. A hero in red swim trunks, we say.

Source: http://now.msn.com/now/0704-florida-...?ocid=todnow11

Since I used to work in the lifeguard business years ago, I know we're trained to help anyone - especially if they're at the risk of drowning. What does everyone think about this? Is his company liable for this?

What does everyone think about this?

[Mutationification]

That would have looked fantastic on the company had it gone the other way.
"I didn't rescue him because my employee said he was out of my area and to just let him drown."

Yeah.
Would have went great.

Massive applause for the lifeguard with a real set of balls.

[Evolution]

Wow that is horrible, he saved a persons life and yet they do this to him. :\

[Cakes1991]

I hope he gets his job back and is compensated for all the time the had him off work...that's sick! :/

[Micky]

This is how it starts. :|

"You do what I tell you to do and ignore everything else."

And to think there are people out there who would have listened to their boss and not saved another person's life...

[hunter214]

I really can't understand the logic of these kinds of companies. I mean, sure he went out of his designated zone or whatever, but in order to save a person's life. Isn't that what they hired him to do in the first place? I mean, who cares if that company fired him. He did the right thing to do. And that was a good clue on the kind of management that company has, obviously they don't care for other peoples lives.

I wonder though, can't he sue that company for firing him? They were definitely out of line, in my opinion.

[cpvr]

This is how it starts. :|

"You do what I tell you to do and ignore everything else."

And to think there are people out there who would have listened to their boss and not saved another person's life...

Regards of the whole situation, the boss is wrong. As a lifeguard, it is your duty to help people and save them. I'm sure this lifeguard won't have a hard time finding a new job.
@hunter214 I know I would, and hopefully he does.

[Evolution]

Regards of the whole situation, the boss is wrong. As a lifeguard, it is your duty to help people and save them. I'm sure this lifeguard won't have a hard time finding a new job.
@hunter214 I know I would, and hopefully he does.

Especially that one I think because he saved a life.