Tomas Lopez Fired: Florida Lifeguard Canned After Saving Drowning Man [Video]

Friggin dumb. That's the only nice wa to say it. His job was LIFEguard. As far as I am concerned he was guarding a LIFE. stupid company, I'm glad they lost employees and I hope the get residual flack from everywhere and everyone! Heartless people.

Oh so he can't save people because of rules, but he can watch a man drown, what stupid people you guys are!

Well now they've just made sure the whole world knows he's a national hero! Bless you Thomas Lopez!

I'm so glad to see that the lifeguards pulled together, and I believe Thomas (and the other lifeguards) will find a better job, where they don"t have to put up with corporate bullying, for doing the right thing, and saving a life (which is their job as lifeguards, right?) Way to go, Thomas! You did the man thing! You will be blessed!

I think Florida needs to look into a new company to guard their beaches because obviously this company does NOT care if someone looses their life!

he did the right thing and is being punished for it he should at least have the option to go back they never should have fired him for saving a life even if it was out of his area.

I'm for the life guard!

Seems kinda funny the way the world works… I've come 2 know 4 myself that rules R only 4 certain people. Either u're in or out. Always do what U know is Right. Many Blessings 2 this young man.

when a life is in danger, there are exceptions to rules, I'm sure a jury would side with the lifeguard.

I wish I had had someone like these young men to help me when my first husband and our 4 year old daughter drowned. How can any one expect the life guards to just stand by and watch. Rules are broken all of the time and this one was to save a life. If it had been their family member that boy would have been a hero instead of fired.

Oh sorry drowning man come closer, and only then I can help you, other wise you have to drown, stupid stupid

Another prime example that no good deed goes unpunished. In this age of litigation all companies do are protect them selves from law suits which results in some very stupid results.

What was he suppose to do? Just sit there and watch someone drown? I would have done the same thing. You did a good thing Thomas Lopez.

What was he suppose to do? Just sit there and watch someone drown? I would have done the same thing. You did a good thing Thomas Lopez.

What was he suppose to do? Just sit there and watch someone drown? I would have done the same thing. You did a good thing Thomas Lopez.

No Good deed goes unpunished……….is thru addiage……….this man is a true hero! God will Bless him!

No Good deed goes unpunished……….is thru addiage……….this man is a true hero! God will Bless him!

No Good deed goes unpunished……….is thru addiage……….this man is a true hero! God will Bless him!

He shouldn't have been fired for going out of his designated area. That is retarded. A person's life should mean more than staying in a patrol area. He should be praised and they should be forced to rehire him.

The state of Florida needs to seriously look into the "corporations" they have hired to keep the beaches safe. This young man deserves a medal, not a pink slip. Cheers to the other lifeguards who protested by giving up their jobs.

I think he should not of been fired for saving a life! He is a lifeguard..isn't that what they are suppose to do?

I understand that rules are rules, but seriously? Hes a LIFEguard and someone was DROWNING! Isn't saving lives what hes SUPPOSED to do? Whatever, hes a HERO in my book!

He did awesome and i probably would have done the same thing however what if there would have been someone drowning in his section who would have saved that person?

He did what was right. Screw the company. Wtg man.

the inherent human instinct of extending the self for goodness sake example – he did not have to study that, for the rules he had to study them- but lopez followed his instincts and saved a life… if the story was accurate… the decision to fire him was quick and unfair, it needs a review… praise to you tomas… I WOULD DO THE SAME.

Sometimes rules are meant to be broken, when a life is at risk. Adherence to rules is important but how on earth can someone idly stand by and watch a life struggle when they know they can save them. I'm sure Captain Sullenberg thought about rules when he was trying to land his plane in the Hudson and save over 150 lives of his passengers and crew.. I'm sure soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq think about rules. I'm sure firefighters think about rules. I'm sure that the life Lopez saved is very glad indeed that a man had the sense and willingness to think about those rules and save him anyway. Bravo Thomas Lopez.

So this young man does his job by SAVING A LIFE and gets fired for it in FLORIDA because rules are rules…..Mr Lopez needs to start a company that is interested in saving life's AND he has a following and staff to do it. Good for you and your fellow lifeguards for taking the right road!

Thats messed up to say times are hard when it comes to finding a jod,n to be fired cause you doing your jod of so wrong in many levels…….LIFEGAURD whats the point of being one if u cant protect a life….

I agree with him. Even if it put my job in jepardy, if it were to save a life, ditto, would do it again in a heartbeat. And shame on the company that fired him. I am glad to see the comraderie amongst the other guards quitting and giving notice..You don't find that going on much anymore. BRAVO TO YOU ALL!

whoever fired him…I hope they don't sleep at night and the guilt kills them..this is what is wrong with this fucking country give him a paid vacation.

Rules that cold figures but if he was a robot a man would be dead so good for you Thomas it is refreshing to see a young adult with heart and your lifeguard friends very commendable their might be hope for our future yet if their are more of these young people to look forward to.

Maybe they need more lifeguards.

Okay let me see if I heard this right, He got fired because he went out of his Zone? so this person that was drowing just let him drown? in this line of work you are suppose to go out and safe lives not fire a life guard cuz he is doing what he was trained to do.

And this is why asking private corporations to do jobs that should be run by the city is a very stupid idea. Since when should liability and rules trump saving a human life. Wow

That's the most asinine thing I've heard in a long time…to fire a lifeguard for saving a life? Could they not imagine that the victim didn't intend to go out of the "allowed area"? I heard on the news last night that 9 lifeguards have quit over this incident…with those kind of rules, it will be amazing if that company can keep any employees…Thomas Lopez did not only the right thing, but the humane thing…God Bless him!

This is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. I bet the man's family is thankful that the Lifeguard rescued their father, brother, uncle. I think he should get his job back, and pray none of his bosses family members go too far out to be saved.

This is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. I bet the man's family is thankful that the Lifeguard rescued their father, brother, uncle. I think he should get his job back, and pray none of his bosses family members go too far out to be saved.

that's always the chance taken when a lifeguard has to go out…whether or not he was in his "zone" is ridiculous…there are currents in the ocean which could have taken that victim out of the patrol area…it wasn't necessarily a conscious decision to break the rules…people who save lives for a living simply REACT when a life is in danger…they can't stop to debate about stupidity….ask any EMS personnel, or any lifeguard

Dumb liberals. The rules are more important than the reason for the rules. You can't rescue some one drowning out of the area because someone might potentially maybe possibly need rescue in the designated area. Maybe that company needs to have a "living breathing" rule book like our US constitution!

I agree, I think it is really stupid. What if the drowning person was the Boss Ms. Ellis or one of her family members? Would he still be fired? He is definetly a hero. I would want him on my beach.

I agree, I think it is really stupid. What if the drowning person was the Boss Ms. Ellis or one of her family members? Would he still be fired? He is definetly a hero. I would want him on my beach.

ok so say that the man was drowning in his "area" isn't that putting other swimmers in danger also? hes preoccupied saving one persons life and all the others are vulnerable.. it shouldn't matter where the person was.. he was in the water and needed to be saved.. regardless where it was.. the lifeguard still has to avert his attention from the drones of people to save the one.. I think this is ridiculous and I give my praise to this young kid who actually cared enough about another human being..something u definitely don't see as much nowadays.. tsk tsk florida.

If they are going to get 'technical' on 'assigned patrol 'areas', where was the lifeguard that was 'assigned' to the area of the drowning victim? Get a life people….this man just saved a life, period! I am so glad to see the other life guards are standing behind Thomas, that shows 'family' this company has no heart…they are 'machines'. God bless you Thomas! You did great and you are a hero!

Bless him for doing what he thought was right. I am with him 100%.

Bless him for doing what he thought was right. I am with him 100%.

This is the way of the world these days. Other people are so much less important to businesses today. They do not seem to consider that if this young lifeguard had not saved the drowning man, they may have still been liable. Nevertheless, kudos to Mr. Lopez for caring more about another's life than about the god of this world, MONEY!

This is the way of the world these days. Other people are so much less important to businesses today. They do not seem to consider that if this young lifeguard had not saved the drowning man, they may have still been liable. Nevertheless, kudos to Mr. Lopez for caring more about another's life than about the god of this world, MONEY!

Apparently Insurance premiums are more important ~ Florida needs to renegoiate the Life Guard contract with a respectable, reliable, honest company. Kudos THOMAS!

Wonder if this supervisor has ever had to wait for service in a restaurant and been annoyed when told, "this isn't my section"?

He alerted guards to the victim within his view, so he effected back up to his post. He put the victim in a rescue position, taking into account the untrained folks who handled the victim first. He got the victim to the hospital, and he helped save a life. It sounds like he was well-intentioned, and even more, he was extremely keen on such a busy, crowded beach. I'd like to know he was watching my family.

Some other lifeguards have resigned in protest.

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Again, a country/business lacking common sense!!! I am so proud of this young man for just simply doing the right thing!!!

What would the company have said and done if he had just stood there and watched the man drown? Would they have backed him up, pointing out that he did the right thing and followed the rules which they consider more important than a human life, or would they have thrown him under the bus when the public outrage began? Sounds like they need to fire their rules, not the hero guarding lives.

Some rules are made to be broken, especially if it means saving someones life. I really think the City should get another company to take over the lifeguards, if this is the way they are handling things.

So right! I couldn't believe this story. What is wrong with people?

That's why they should have a back up ready and that's why as a life guard you have first and 2nd responders. what if someone in his area was drowning, he still would be putting the people in his area at risk because he would be in the water and not watching.

This company should hold their heads down in shame! F your liability issues! You can't sit back and see someone DIE! The word is LIFEguard….I went out of my zone at one time as a lifeguard but the victim DIED. This guy is a hero and should be commended for doing what's MORALLY RIGHT! THIS IS EXACTLY WHY THE WORLD'S SCREWED UP.

What an outrage. Wonder how management would feel if out was one of THEIR family members

Just Very wrong!! If your trained in the field on saving lives- isn't it your responsibility to help out if you are there witnessing someone you CAN help?!
And even if ur not in the field just common sense to help someone who is in danger!

Every single time I see someone "name calling" it is someone who refers to Liberals – as "dumb' or even worse things. For crying out loud people – what IS it with you and the name-calling? As someone else said above, the kid called on his radio to alert "the team" what he was doing — which he would have had to have done if the drowning was in his area or NOT. Rules are NOT more important than the reason. Now, if this posting by Mr. Wilson was done with his "tongue in his cheek", I have to say that the sarcasm doesn't come through….

I would understand the company's response had someone been injured in his area during the rescue, however, that was not the case. He responded as a trained lifeguard and more importantly as a upstanding, brave, and caring young man. He's just the kind of person that, if I employed Lifeguards, would want on my staff. He deserves a medal – not being fired! His boss sounds like a real jerk!

Hedd id leave his his post unattended. He was warned about the consequences, however I can understand why he did it, he just couldn't sit by and watch a person drown. It seemed noone else was going to help that person. Morally he is right. I think being fired is a bit harsh.

Hedd id leave his his post unattended. He was warned about the consequences, however I can understand why he did it, he just couldn't sit by and watch a person drown. It seemed noone else was going to help that person. Morally he is right. I think being fired is a bit harsh.

well for pete's sake! If I'm ever in trouble in the water I sure hope this young man is around! Good for you Tomas for doing what is right!

well for pete's sake! If I'm ever in trouble in the water I sure hope this young man is around! Good for you Tomas for doing what is right!

This young man should have gotten a medal or an acknowledgement of his good work from his bosses, not canned. Florida needs to be using a government agency to protect the beaches, not a corporation. Corporations only think about money, and making more of it. Create some jobs and put the rangers in charge of hiring young people, training them in rescue, and let them life guard the beaches.

Seems like if he let the person drown the company could've got sued so shame on you company its not always about your rules

H U G S

Read this yesterday. Made me a little angry.

Read this yesterday. Made me a little angry.

Stay in your area when there is not some one drowning… Is how most of us would have thought. I understand and agree that by leaving he put his sector in danger but, he wanted to save that person's life who was already in danger yes he risked some one from his sector needing him but theis guy needed him. He is a trained life saver duh , he could not watch that man drown! Did they fire the gaurd from that section? What did this mn's family think about this policy? They should sue the company since they just said that Lopez should have let him drown. Who could have said "oh, that's not my sector, could you drown over here 500 yards from where you are? Then, I can help you? wow really? really? Thasnk you Lopez for having some sense in your head enough to know, that life is sacred and everyone has a purpose no matter what sector the choose to swim in.

Stay in your area when there is not some one drowning… Is how most of us would have thought. I understand and agree that by leaving he put his sector in danger but, he wanted to save that person's life who was already in danger yes he risked some one from his sector needing him but theis guy needed him. He is a trained life saver duh , he could not watch that man drown! Did they fire the gaurd from that section? What did this mn's family think about this policy? They should sue the company since they just said that Lopez should have let him drown. Who could have said "oh, that's not my sector, could you drown over here 500 yards from where you are? Then, I can help you? wow really? really? Thasnk you Lopez for having some sense in your head enough to know, that life is sacred and everyone has a purpose no matter what sector the choose to swim in.

Their is a hellava lot of stupidity in this world………..

It seems more appropriate that the person who's section he had to go into should have been fired.

Stay in your area when there is not someone drowning… Is how most of us would have thought. I understand and agree that by leaving he put his sector in danger but, he wanted to save that person's life who was already in danger yes he risked someone from his sector needing him but this guy needed him. He is a trained life saver duh, he could not watch that man drown! Did they fire the guard from that section? What did this man’s family think about this policy? They should sue the company since they just said that Lopez should have let him drown. Who could have said "oh, that's not my sector, could you drown over here 500 yards from where you are? Then, I can help you? Wow really? Really? Thank you Lopez for having some sense in your head enough to know, that life is sacred and everyone has a purpose no matter what sector the choose to swim in.

Stay in your area when there is not someone drowning… Is how most of us would have thought. I understand and agree that by leaving he put his sector in danger but, he wanted to save that person's life who was already in danger yes he risked someone from his sector needing him but this guy needed him. He is a trained life saver duh, he could not watch that man drown! Did they fire the guard from that section? What did this man’s family think about this policy? They should sue the company since they just said that Lopez should have let him drown. Who could have said "oh, that's not my sector, could you drown over here 500 yards from where you are? Then, I can help you? Wow really? Really? Thank you Lopez for having some sense in your head enough to know, that life is sacred and everyone has a purpose no matter what sector they choose to swim in.

I agree 100 percent a persons life is worth breaking rules and I would have done the same thing. He is definitely a hero.

We know the name of the Hero Tom lopez – now tell us the names of the morons who fired him.

The lifeguard did the right thing and his employers are idiots. I guess it's true that no good deed goes unpunished.

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" If we did something inappropriately, we WILL make it right."—-a quote by management. Instead of finding fault with the company, maybe we should all be praying that management finds they DID DO something inappropriate. Making it right would include returning this young man, and his supporters, to his former position. Whether they do or not, however, Tomas Lopez , and the lifeguards who supported him, are ALL heroes. This is what a hero is— Do what you have to do, and DAMN the consequences.

If he would've let the man drown because of the company's "policy" someone would've gone after the lifeguard company for sure. I'm pretty sure people frown upon other people dying over silly altercations like that. If anything, this guy saved his company's neck. Yet this is how they treat him?

Thomas lopez your the real hero, if I were drowning i'd trust u to break the rules;) and to the rich bastard who you worked for has no heart and has an empty soul.

what do u expect from morons… in 1984 I almost drowned at Santa Monica Beach and there were NO lifeguards in sight… so to whoever that person was who saved my life and pulled me to safety… THANK YOU… without u I would have never known my grand daughter Aaliyah who is the Light of my Life.

MANAGERS DO THINGS RIGHT WHILE LEADERS DO THE RIGHT THING BRAVO YOUNGMAN.

This first question that came to my mind is "Where was the lifeguard that was supposed to be watching that section of the beach/water?" If they were where they were supposed to be this young man would not have had to leave his area to help save anyone. Shame on the company for putting rules over life. Shame, shame, shame.

BOYCOTT THE COMPANY HIT THEM WHEN IT HURTS. THEY 334,000 THAT YEAR WHILE HE MADE 7.65 AN HOUR OOH! HE COULD DO SO MUCH BETTER THEM MONEY GRUBBING CORPARATIONS.

That's a shame, but like everything else ur just a number in the work place…. Everyone is on the chopping block.

Oops! (I spelled your name wrong, Tomas!)

What was he supposed to do? Say, "sorry, sir, I can't save you because you're not swimming in my section?"

Rules now are more important then saving lives. What is this world really coming to? The people who fired Thomas should be ashamed of themselves.

Doctors get in trouble for saving lives, too, with 'certain illnesses', such as Lyme Disease. I'm loving that the other lifeguards stood behind their colleague!

Wow. Such total BS

Sorry Tomas…I didn't mean to spell your name incorrectly…

Sorry Tomas…I didn't mean to spell your name incorrectly…

Public school is the same way..they put more emphasis on who's violating the dress code than they do on making sure teachers, etc are doing their jobs…crazy.

This is a prime example of why municipalities should NOT be contracting services that deal with life and limb out to the highest bidder….can you really put a price on a human life?

This is a prime example of why municipalities should NOT be contracting services that deal with life and limb out to the highest bidder….can you really put a price on a human life?

he shouldn't be fired. I understand if they gave him a warning letter for leaving his post, but getting fired is a bit extreme. for god's sake he saved a life. where was the lifesaver who was supposed to be at his/her post of where the victim was drowning?

stupid people

This is typical of what the corporations want all of us to become. Mindless order takers that do not think for ourselves. I would hope the municipality that contracted with these soulless cocksuckers would release them from their contract over this obvious disregard for a job well done. Isn't there some redundancy in the lifeguards so he could be covered for while he does what his job is or do they calculate so many square feet of beach for each man to protect.

The company that fired Lopez, Orlando-based Jeff Ellis and Associates would probably have had a totally different outlook had it been one of their family members whose life was saved…. He probably would have gotten a huge bonus instead of a pink slip… This is what KARMA is for……. Shame on them……

Made me a lot angry.

Let's me know not to go to the beaches in florida where that company supplies the lifegaurds! That is really messed up! The young man is a hero! Thank You Tomas Lopez for being a human being and saving that man as you did. Kudos to you!

as much as I agree with what he did I feel the need to be the devils advocate. I know someones life was at stake but if something had happened to the lifeguard, the company would not be covered by their insurance, its all about the money, money doesn't care about morals or ethics. At grocery stores they train workers to let stuff fall instead of catching it, because mechandise is cheaper than workers comp. I'm not trying to compare someones life to merchandise, but the companies basically look at it the same way.

sadly the company would not be liable if it were outside their patrol area

If that was your father, son, or brother, what would you want Lopez to do?

I read about this just this morning.

Dumb dittie- dumb dumb seems to be the current theme these days!

Seems to me if he had no other black marks on his record, a reprimand should have been sufficient.

But then again – as the saying goes "no good deed goes unpunished"

Corporations often have very twisted sense of ethics. It is pretty obvious to most humans that saving a man who is known to be drowning should be a top priority. Yes someone else could have needed attention, but the likelihood at any given time is very low. So best to do good where you know you can do it.

Better this than the other extreme – http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/east_bay&id=8161285

Proves the old saying "no good deed goes unpunished."

Toy have to look at both sides of the issue here. Yes, he save one man. ONE! He was responsible for hundreds. This time, nothing bad happened. Would be be applauding him if 3 children DIED because he wasn't at his assigned post? NO! He would be vilified and crucified in the court of public opinion.

I heard he got his job back

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They should have fired the lifeguard that was assigned to that area for NOT saving the man. Bravo Tomas!

FL should give this young man a medal! They need to give rid of that corporation! Tomas..great job! To the lifeguards that quit and gave notice…kudos for backing up your fellow worker! Good luck finding better jobs with a better and caring company!

FL should give this young man a medal! They need to give rid of that corporation! Tomas..great job! To the lifeguards that quit and gave notice…kudos for backing up your fellow worker! Good luck finding better jobs with a better and caring company!

I'm sorry sir, I know you're drowning,, but please swim over past this line..

Mindy Blue-Clark – that's true in the schools in the town we live in, too, unfortunately.

I saw that they did offer him his job back and he refused…Good for him!

what would have happen to him if he did not leave to go help theguy would be dead and then what he did the right thing I think he did his job to help people that are in danger and he did.

Maybe there should have been more lifeguards in place. After all, he did have to go 500 yards from his post!

Any body knows that when you see a person in distress your instinks kick in and your not thinking about rules. I applaude this young man.

This reminds me of the incident in Alameda, CA where rescuers were not allowed to rescue because of liabilities.

http://www.firerescue1.com/rescue/articles/1055727-Drowning-prompts-emergency-response-review-in-Calif/

I'm glad the lifeguard followed his morals and saved the person.

so if he was fired for leaving his "zone" where was the lifeguard in the "zone" that he wasn't supposed to be in! Hmmmm? where is the answer to that question? SO now all the beach goers know that if you are on that particular beach, don't get into any trouble cause if you are in the wrong zone… you're history. The ceos of the company need to be fired, not him.

orchids to tomasfor doing what was the riight thing! onions to the cold corp. with no heart or soul!

what would public opinion have said if he stayed at his damn post and watched the man die? i do not think he deserved to be fired. i see yr point but they could have reprimanded. what would any of us have done in that situation?