Recently I wrote about Delroy Simmonds who missed his interview but landed a higher paying job after saving an infant’s life. It seems heroic actions like this would always be rewarded but Tomas Lopez was fired from his position as a life guard recently because he saved someone’s life.
“Huh?” You may say as I did when learning about this strange twist of events. But that’s exactly what happened when the 21 year old lifeguard in Florida left his post to do what he was trained to do and save a man who was drowning. The problem is the man was in a “swim at your own risk” area.
After being approached for help by beachgoers, Lopez noticed the drowning man and ran 1,500 feet south of the protected boundary that the company he works for oversees. He assisted in pulling the man to shore and resuscitating him with an off duty nurse until the paramedics arrived. The man was transported to the hospital and admitted to intensive care.
Supervisor Susan Ellis assured the public that "The beach remained protected at all times.”Other lifeguards were on the phone with 911 and overseeing Lopez’s area during the rescue so beachgoers in the protective area were safe. Still they chose to fire Lopez after asking him to fill out an incident report.
Hero or not, he broke the rules and when it all boils down the company could have been sued. Ellis explained the decision to terminate Lopez’s employment like this, "We have liability issues and can't go out of the protected area. What he did was his own decision. He knew the company rules and did what he thought he needed to do."
For Lopez losing a job that pays $8.25 an hour is nothing in comparison to losing a man’s life. "It was the moral thing to do," Lopez said. "I would never pick a job over my morals." He knew he broke the rule but if the situation arose again he wouldn’t react any differently.
Co-worker Szilard Janko agreed with Lopez’s decision to leave his post, "What was he supposed to do? Watch a man drown?" Janko and another lifeguard quit in protest over Lopez’s firing.
This year the company’s contract to provide lifeguards for the city beaches and pools expires. I suggest if they want it renewed they should include a clause and plan that stipulates for events like these. In my opinion, no one should have to watch someone die if they could prevent it for fear of being fired.
What do you think? Would you step out of bounds to save someone even if it meant losing your job?
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