Fired Florida Lifeguard's Coworkers Out After Admitting They'd Save Man Outside Zone (ABC News)
A Florida lifeguard has been booted from his lifeguard chair for running to save a man who was floundering in the surf.
Tomas Lopez , 21, was fired by his supervisor for vacating his lifeguarding zone to save a man drowning in an unprotected area of the beach in Hallandale Beach, Fla., on Monday, reports the Sun Sentinel.
Lopez' employer is not paid to patrol the zone where the man had been in trouble. According to the Sun Sentinel, Lopez was approached by a beachgoer who pointed out a man struggling in the water nearly 1,500 feet south of his post.
Instinctively, he ran down the beach to save him. By the time Lopez got to him, he had been pulled to shore by fellow beachgoers.
Following his rescue attempt, Lopez was let go for leaving the area he was supposed to be covering.
Jeff Ellis and Associates, a private aquatic safety contractor, is hired by the city to patrol the beaches. The company is also in charge of hiring and training the city's lifeguards.
Susan Ellis, spokeswoman for Jeff Ellis and Associates, told the Sun Sentinel that Lopez broke company rules when he left his zone, and cited "liability issues" that may have occurred as a result of Lopez leaving his designated area.
Ellis could not be reached for further comment.
Some of Lopez's friends rallied for him on his Facebook page where he had posted the Sun Sentinel's article.
"thats messed up but im proud of you for standing up like that and doing whats right. Tomas Lopez = Hero!!" one commenter wrote.
Tom Gill, spokesman for the United States Lifesaving Association, said Lopez's firing came across as a little harsh.
"It seems unfortunate that a guard would do what he's trained to do and be fired for it," he said.
Gill said that the boundaries set by Jeff Ellis and Associates were most likely set by the city of Hallandale Beach in a private contract.
"Usually when the municipalities hire someone to [lifeguard], those organizations are not only taking on the responsibility of the job, but a lot of the liability," he said.
USLA is recognized as the authority on open water lifesaving by the Red Cross, and certifies agencies and associations around the country based on their training.
Gill said Jeff Ellis and Associates has not applied for certification with USLA, and so he could not speak on the company's regulations or training.
"As far as being fired for going outside the zone, I couldn't tell you how they could make that justification," he said.
MTW-So this is what this Country is- has deteriorated into. Money is now more important than a Human Life. That, Ladies and Gentlemen, is BULLSHIT! How dare that man-or company, Jeff Ellis and Associates, fire this honorable young man for trying to help save a life. He is a LIFEGUARD. How far from his zone did he actually go, and did it cause another person harm when in need of his duties before he got back? Or, is it about money, rather than his leaving his zone? We all know the answer, and it is Obama's fault. Every single company in this Country that is not given gifts of funding and bailouts by the Obama Administration, or Unions, has begun to be nothing but greedy, uncaring and heartless assholes, just like you Mr. President. Jeff Ellis and Associates has just made the F list (you know the word), and Tomas Lopez, you my brave young man are now on my good person list. If anyone wants to see these lists, please sent me a comment or e-mail. Thank you, Tomas, for caring more about people than money. You are probably a Religious man; if not, you are simply a good and brave man. The Bible says that Christians are not supposed to Worship "Mammon" (mammon being money)over God, and your duties as a Christian are to Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. F Jeff Ellis and Associates, and Obama for creating this financial disaster pushing normally generous folks into penny pinching money hoarding worriers. And there is now one more unemployed American, who had to get himself Certified to do the job. This is appalling. No more Obama, and the lies. I suppose he has turned this Nation into- not a Christian Nation, as it has been for decades, or centuries; his Islamic mission has been a success. Destroy all of us Infadels, and turn this Country into a Socialist State. You are well on your way. Nobama-Nobiden in 2012!
UPDATE: Tomas' was offered his job back, but the young man refused. Way to go Tomas. I respect your thinking and decision. Do not stop trying to help others.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
Posted by Michael T. Wayne- A Little Crazy
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