Fla. lifeguard fired for rescue outside beach zone

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Lifeguard Tomas Lopez helped save a drowning man and got fired for it.

The reason: He left the section of a south Florida beach his company is paid to patrol. The Orlando-based company, Jeff Ellis and Associates, says Lopez broke a company rule and could have put beachgoers in his section in jeopardy.

The Sun Sentinel reported (http://sunsent.nl/R71CCy ) Lopez was on duty Monday at Hallandale Beach when a beachgoer asked for help. Lopez said he ran to assist a man struggling in the water south of his post.

By the time Lopez arrived, witnesses had pulled the drowning man out of the water. Lopez and an off-duty nurse helped him until paramedics arrived. The victim survived and was hospitalized.

Afterward, Lopez was fired.

Two other lifeguards have quit in protest.

Comments

1) Comment by danielf - 04/07/2012

that's what happens when you privatize the people that are supposed to protect us. that company stands to lose money if employees go above and beyond. likewise that company stands to gain if somebody drowns outside their zone because it makes them look better and helps them make a case for their services.

2) Comment by 8point6 - 04/07/2012

Jesus come in Glory! Renew the face of the earth!