Florida lifeguard fired for helping drowning man - GoFuckYourself.com

DVTimes · 07-05-2012, 05:21 AM

A lifeguard who left his section of a Florida beach to help save a man from drowning has been given the sack.

Tomas Lopez, 21, was patrolling part of Hallandale Beach north of Miami when he was told that a swimmer was in trouble in an unguarded area of the beach.

"I wasn't going to say no," the lifeguard said.

But his bosses said he had broken company rules and could have put other swimmers at risk. At least two colleagues have resigned in protest.

"We have liability issues and can't go out of the protected area," Susan Ellis of lifeguard provider Jeff Ellis and Associates told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

She added that the stretch of Hallandale Beach that Mr Lopez was supposed to be patrolling on Monday was being protected by other lifeguards who were on the phone to emergency operators at the time.

Mr Lopez, four months in the job, ran some distance to help the swimmer who had already been pulled out of the water by other beachgoers.

He and an off-duty nurse then helped the man until paramedics arrived to take him to hospital. The unidentified swimmer is said to be in intensive care.

Mr Lopez has no regrets about losing his $8.25-an-hour (£5.30; 6.60 euros) job.

"I think it's ridiculous, honestly, that a sign is what separates someone from being safe and not safe," Mr Lopez told CBS television.

A colleague, on finding out that he had been fired, said he radioed his manager to cover the beach for him and promptly quit.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18715684

BradBreakfast · 07-05-2012, 05:44 AM

Actually by law, he may have had a duty to act since he was employed on a public beach.

GetSCORECash · 07-05-2012, 06:00 AM

But this was a private company hired to protect a certain stretch of beach, its like a renta cop leaving the warehouse he was asked to monitor.

BradBreakfast · 07-05-2012, 06:10 AM

Believe it or not I went to school for EMS and actually worked for two private lifeguard companies. Both companies I know would want you to make a rescue that was "within sight". One was Knott's and the other was a Lake.

It's my opinion since this company is protecting the public, on a contract they do indeed have a duty to act. In the U.S. a lot of ambulance companies that respond to 911 calls are in fact privately owned corporations as well... that does not relieve them of their duty to act. It could be debated that this company is acting as "EMS" due to their status as First Responders that probably provide first aid as well, which technically makes them an EMS component.

If I was this guy, I would start a campaign to not renew this company's contract next year.

I for one would never let company policies prevent me from doing what is right, or to protect myself.

This is like a corporation telling you your "not allowed" to fight off somebody that's robbed you and now telling you to turn around and get on your knees... only the ignorant blatantly take corporate policies to the extreme.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GetSCORECash

But this was a private company hired to protect a certain stretch of beach, its like a renta cop leaving the warehouse he was asked to monitor.

fitzmulti · 07-05-2012, 06:21 AM

Sad that corporate BS would get in the way of assisting someone...

seeandsee · 07-05-2012, 06:34 AM

They are all crazy to fire him because he helped in such situation

DWB · 07-05-2012, 06:57 AM

America.

Barefootsies · 07-05-2012, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWB

America.

Sweet liberty.

bronco67 · 07-05-2012, 07:18 AM

The US is getting sillier by the day.

Tom_PM · 07-05-2012, 07:22 AM

Zero tolerance = zero compassion.

John-ACWM · 07-05-2012, 07:27 AM

Laws beat life.

Barefootsies · 07-05-2012, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John-ACWM

Laws beat life.

Sadly... when you can sue anyone for anything you get this sort of foolishness.

epitome · 07-05-2012, 09:59 AM

Since DV always posts two day old news, there is already a review going on by the company and the guy may get his job back.

JFK · 07-05-2012, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fitzmulti

Sad that corporate BS would get in the way of assisting someone...

Too true

alias · 07-05-2012, 10:36 AM

Pathetic.

react · 07-05-2012, 10:38 AM

Swim between the fucking flags.

epitome · 07-05-2012, 10:38 AM

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/bro...,4887768.story

The owner of the company has offered his job back.

Tush Media · 07-05-2012, 10:40 AM

Pretty sad

Lykos · 07-05-2012, 10:43 AM

That's idiotic...

Joshua G · 07-05-2012, 10:44 AM

hard to judge without all the facts. i have to believe there were other issues, maybe he broke other rules or had poor attendance. seems like something that merits a warning.

Barefootsies · 07-05-2012, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bronco67

The US is getting sillier by the day.

PornoMonster · 07-05-2012, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BradBreakfast

This is like a corporation telling you your "not allowed" to fight off somebody that's robbed you and now telling you to turn around and get on your knees... only the ignorant blatantly take corporate policies to the extreme.

You are NOT, depending on who you work for.

A person who was a delivery driver for Pizza Hut was robbed and was starting to get beat down, with the back of a handgun. The driver pulled out a gun and shot into the air. He was FIRED.

epitome · 07-05-2012, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PornoMonster

You are NOT, depending on who you work for.

A person who was a delivery driver for Pizza Hut was robbed and was starting to get beat down, with the back of a handgun. The driver pulled out a gun and shot into the air. He was FIRED.

A lifeguard is CPR certified and by law must render aid when someone is in distress.

Do corporate rules trump the law?

Would the company have defended him against lawsuits if he was sued for failing to render aid? Even if he could have won the suit would the company have provided a lawyer?

Phoenix · 07-05-2012, 11:52 AM

oops i just saw your thread..lol

Rochard · 07-05-2012, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GetSCORECash

But this was a private company hired to protect a certain stretch of beach, its like a renta cop leaving the warehouse he was asked to monitor.

Yes, but, by law if he knew the warehouse was on fire and there was people in it he might have been required to act.

I have no issues with what he did. In fact, he might be a hero.

CDSmith · 07-05-2012, 12:08 PM

When the company says "just following the rules, you're fired" all I hear is "You should have let that guy drown."

Sad when saving a life is worth less than maintaining some rule that doesn't take into account nor have any provision for alternate scenarios. Anyone with an ounce of decency in them would have done what that Lopez kid did. He should be reinstated, and the guy who fired him bitchslapped for not having the brains to realise that their "rule" needs amending, not blind following.

CurrentlySober · 07-05-2012, 12:14 PM

i cant afford to learn how to swim...

DamianJ · 07-05-2012, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by epitome

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/bro...,4887768.story

The owner of the company has offered his job back.

Another spastic dvtimes thread

BradBreakfast · 07-05-2012, 03:57 PM

Better fired then dead. Your only "now allowed" to defend yourself due to corporate policy, when my life is in imminent danger I don't care what some self serving corporation's corporate rules are... it's between me and the attacker at that point.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PornoMonster

You are NOT, depending on who you work for.

A person who was a delivery driver for Pizza Hut was robbed and was starting to get beat down, with the back of a handgun. The driver pulled out a gun and shot into the air. He was FIRED.

Freaky_Akula · 07-07-2012, 08:24 AM

The swimmer knew what he was getting himself into. He knew he was in an unprotected area and he still decided to go into the watter. If he wanted protection he should have gone to the protected area.

L-Pink · 07-07-2012, 09:13 AM

I would have a hard time living my life knowing I let a someone die to protect my $8.25 an hour job. Good for him!

mce · 07-07-2012, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L-Pink

I would have a hard time living my life knowing I let a someone die to protect my $8.25 an hour job. Good for him!

This pretty much puts it all in perspective

Freaky_Akula · 07-07-2012, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L-Pink

I would have a hard time living my life knowing I let a someone die to protect my $8.25 an hour job. Good for him!

He was paid to protect the people in the water in front of the stretch of beach assigned to him. People depended on him. People like parents with children are more likely to go into the water in protected areas than unprotected areas. The lifeguard abandoned all those people he had agreed to protect. He is not a hero. He is an idiot or an attention whore. He put a lot of people in danger to help another idiot who knowingly went into an unprotected part of the sea.

PornoMonster · 07-08-2012, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by epitome

A lifeguard is CPR certified and by law must render aid when someone is in distress.

Do corporate rules trump the law?

Would the company have defended him against lawsuits if he was sued for failing to render aid? Even if he could have won the suit would the company have provided a lawyer?

That Law is only in different states. And if the person is drowning they don't need CPR till drowned. LOL

Site Collector · 07-08-2012, 07:49 PM

its florida, nothing coming from that state should surprise anyone.

perfectly stated by L-Pink

Quote:

Originally Posted by L-Pink

I would have a hard time living my life knowing I let a someone die to protect my $8.25 an hour job. Good for him!

BradBreakfast · 07-08-2012, 07:58 PM

When I worked for Knott's I was a Ellis & Associates lifeguard. IT SHOCKED THE HELL OUT OF ME to find out this was Ellis & Associates. I would have expected nothing but the best from Jeff Ellis, but he and his staff really have let the industry down with this and in my opinion, irreparably harmed their corporate reputation for always producing "the best" lifeguards.

Linguist · 07-08-2012, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freaky_Akula

He was paid to protect the people in the water in front of the stretch of beach assigned to him. People depended on him. People like parents with children are more likely to go into the water in protected areas than unprotected areas. The lifeguard abandoned all those people he had agreed to protect. He is not a hero. He is an idiot or an attention whore. He put a lot of people in danger to help another idiot who knowingly went into an unprotected part of the sea.

No.

If you were to read the article, you'd learn that he made sure that there was another guard supervising the beach while he left to take care of the man. No area of the beach was left unattended.

Read before commenting.

epitome · 07-08-2012, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BradBreakfast

When I worked for Knott's I was a Ellis & Associates lifeguard. IT SHOCKED THE HELL OUT OF ME to find out this was Ellis & Associates. I would have expected nothing but the best from Jeff Ellis, but he and his staff really have let the industry down with this and in my opinion, irreparably harmed their corporate reputation for always producing "the best" lifeguards.

Based on things I've read by past and current employees, you were the only happy employee.

ShoeBox · 07-08-2012, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mce

This pretty much puts it all in perspective

Your avatar is so cheap

epitome · 07-09-2012, 06:06 PM

The fired lifeguard got a key to the city today and also got to meet the man he left to rescue.

The city is likely going to terminate the contract since it is up for renewal in September.

All's well that ends well.

directfiesta · 07-09-2012, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freaky_Akula

He was paid to protect the people in the water in front of the stretch of beach assigned to him. People depended on him. People like parents with children are more likely to go into the water in protected areas than unprotected areas. The lifeguard abandoned all those people he had agreed to protect. He is not a hero. He is an idiot or an attention whore. He put a lot of people in danger to help another idiot who knowingly went into an unprotected part of the sea.

Wow... just wow ...

I am a property owner in Pompano Beach. Last march, there were a patch of riptide on the beach, a few hundreds feet from me ... About 6 people were just pulled away ... The lifegard from my post and neighboring post all went to help ... Our lifegard left us his walkie-talkie in case any help was needed while he was gone ... Needless to see, most people were out of the water during that event..

Maybe they should fire him as well.

The real problem is similar to the one in most american enviroement : fear of multi-million successfull lawsuit ...

Media_Guy · 07-09-2012, 07:52 PM

He is paid to save lives. No matter what stretch of beach, if he is on or off duty.

Phoenix · 07-09-2012, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by epitome

The fired lifeguard got a key to the city today and also got to meet the man he left to rescue.

The city is likely going to terminate the contract since it is up for renewal in September.

All's well that ends well.

good i hope they terminate the contract
the manager should have been sacked as well.

GregE · 07-09-2012, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by directfiesta

The real problem is similar to the one in most american enviroement : fear of multi-million successfull lawsuit ...

Bingo.

A well renowned English writer expressed similar frustration regarding such long, long ago.

"Why, may not that be the skull of a lawyer?" - (Hamlet, 5.1.97) by William Shakespeare

epitome · 07-09-2012, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Media_Guy

He is paid to save lives. No matter what stretch of beach, if he is on or off duty.

Florida has laws about duty to rescue / render aid. Not sure what they specifically are, but I'd imagine a lifeguard would be considered to be something like an EMT and should render aid when they are aware of someone needing it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duty_to_rescue

07-05-2012, 05:21 AM	#1
DVTimes xxx Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: UK Posts: 31,547	Florida lifeguard fired for helping drowning man A lifeguard who left his section of a Florida beach to help save a man from drowning has been given the sack. Tomas Lopez, 21, was patrolling part of Hallandale Beach north of Miami when he was told that a swimmer was in trouble in an unguarded area of the beach. "I wasn't going to say no," the lifeguard said. But his bosses said he had broken company rules and could have put other swimmers at risk. At least two colleagues have resigned in protest. "We have liability issues and can't go out of the protected area," Susan Ellis of lifeguard provider Jeff Ellis and Associates told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. She added that the stretch of Hallandale Beach that Mr Lopez was supposed to be patrolling on Monday was being protected by other lifeguards who were on the phone to emergency operators at the time. Mr Lopez, four months in the job, ran some distance to help the swimmer who had already been pulled out of the water by other beachgoers. He and an off-duty nurse then helped the man until paramedics arrived to take him to hospital. The unidentified swimmer is said to be in intensive care. Mr Lopez has no regrets about losing his $8.25-an-hour (£5.30; 6.60 euros) job. "I think it's ridiculous, honestly, that a sign is what separates someone from being safe and not safe," Mr Lopez told CBS television. A colleague, on finding out that he had been fired, said he radioed his manager to cover the beach for him and promptly quit. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18715684 __________________ The Affiliate Program

07-05-2012, 06:00 AM	#3
GetSCORECash Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 5,527	But this was a private company hired to protect a certain stretch of beach, its like a renta cop leaving the warehouse he was asked to monitor. __________________ \| skype: getscorecash \| ICQ: 59-271-063 \| New Sites: \| SCORELAND2 \| Roku Channel SCORETV.TV \| 60PLUSMILFS \| \| Big Tit Hooker \| Tits And Tugs \| Big Boobs POV \| Karla James \| \| Naughty Foot Jobs \| Linsey's World \| Busty Arianna Sinn \| Get SCORE Cash \|

07-05-2012, 06:21 AM	#5
fitzmulti I Like Depth Of Field! Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA: 36.12318 N, 115.090219 W Posts: 14,861	Sad that corporate BS would get in the way of assisting someone... __________________ www.SexyGirlsCash.com CONTACT // FITZMULTI AT GMAIL.COM // {Please include a message so I know you are from GFY! I get too many spam "add requests"!}

07-05-2012, 06:34 AM	#6
seeandsee Check SIG! Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Europe (Skype: gojkoas) Posts: 50,945	They are all crazy to fire him because he helped in such situation __________________ BUY MY SIG - 50$/Year Contact here

07-05-2012, 07:18 AM	#9
bronco67 Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 29,032	The US is getting sillier by the day. __________________

07-05-2012, 05:44 AM	#2
BradBreakfast Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 415	Actually by law, he may have had a duty to act since he was employed on a public beach.

07-05-2012, 06:57 AM	#7
DWB Registered User Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Encrypted. Access denied. Posts: 31,779	America.

07-05-2012, 07:22 AM	#10
Tom_PM Porn Meister Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 16,443	Zero tolerance = zero compassion. __________________ 43-922-863 Shut up and play your guitar.

07-05-2012, 07:27 AM	#11
John-ACWM Work Work Work Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: EU Posts: 20,060	Laws beat life. __________________ Video Chat Forum

07-05-2012, 09:59 AM	#13
epitome So Fucking Lame Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: St. Petersburg, FL Posts: 12,156	Since DV always posts two day old news, there is already a review going on by the company and the guy may get his job back.

07-05-2012, 10:36 AM	#15
alias aliasx Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 19,010	Pathetic. __________________ https://porncorporation.com

07-05-2012, 10:38 AM	#16
react Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NZ Posts: 673	Swim between the fucking flags. __________________ -- react

07-05-2012, 10:40 AM	#18
Tush Media So Fucking Banned Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 34	Pretty sad

07-05-2012, 10:43 AM	#19
Lykos Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: World Posts: 31,027	That's idiotic... __________________

07-05-2012, 10:44 AM	#20
Joshua G dumb libs love censorship Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 8,198	hard to judge without all the facts. i have to believe there were other issues, maybe he broke other rules or had poor attendance. seems like something that merits a warning.

07-05-2012, 11:52 AM	#24
Phoenix BACON BACON BACON Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Poems everybody, the laddie fancies himself a poet Posts: 35,465	oops i just saw your thread..lol __________________ Skype Phoenixskype1 Telegram PhoenixBrad https://quantads.io

07-05-2012, 12:08 PM	#26
CDSmith Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: May 2001 Location: My network is hosted at TECHIEMEDIA.net ...Wait, you meant where am I located at? Oh... okay, I'm in Winnipeg, Canada. Oops. :) Posts: 51,460	When the company says "just following the rules, you're fired" all I hear is "You should have let that guy drown." Sad when saving a life is worth less than maintaining some rule that doesn't take into account nor have any provision for alternate scenarios. Anyone with an ounce of decency in them would have done what that Lopez kid did. He should be reinstated, and the guy who fired him bitchslapped for not having the brains to realise that their "rule" needs amending, not blind following. __________________ *Promote Wildmatch, ImLive, Sexier.com, and more!!* ALWAYS THE HIGHEST PAYOUTS: Big Bux/ImLive SIGNUP ON NOW!!! Put some PUSSYCA$H in your pocket. ICQ me at: 31024634

07-05-2012, 12:14 PM	#27
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07-07-2012, 08:24 AM	#30
Freaky_Akula Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 3,670	The swimmer knew what he was getting himself into. He knew he was in an unprotected area and he still decided to go into the watter. If he wanted protection he should have gone to the protected area. __________________

07-07-2012, 09:13 AM	#31
L-Pink working on my tan Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Florida/Kentucky Posts: 39,151	I would have a hard time living my life knowing I let a someone die to protect my $8.25 an hour job. Good for him!

07-08-2012, 07:58 PM	#36
BradBreakfast Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 415	When I worked for Knott's I was a Ellis & Associates lifeguard. IT SHOCKED THE HELL OUT OF ME to find out this was Ellis & Associates. I would have expected nothing but the best from Jeff Ellis, but he and his staff really have let the industry down with this and in my opinion, irreparably harmed their corporate reputation for always producing "the best" lifeguards. __________________ GetClicky - The World's Most Advanced Real Time Ajax-based Analytics Last edited by BradBreakfast; 07-08-2012 at 07:59 PM..

07-09-2012, 06:06 PM	#40
epitome So Fucking Lame Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: St. Petersburg, FL Posts: 12,156	The fired lifeguard got a key to the city today and also got to meet the man he left to rescue. The city is likely going to terminate the contract since it is up for renewal in September. All's well that ends well.

07-09-2012, 07:52 PM	#42
Media_Guy Registered User Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 4	He is paid to save lives. No matter what stretch of beach, if he is on or off duty.