Lifeguard fired for saving drowning man

That is just unbelievable.  I love that the other life guards quit in protest.  I would have too.

Saw this on the news this morning.    I can see both sides of it, however he is a LIFEGUARD and was trained to save lives.  That would be like a dr getting fired for saving a life on the sidewalk and not in the hosptial.  I realize what the rules are on that beach, and I get it, but  they should be thanking this young man for his quick thinking.

And another point my  husband brought up, why was everyone standing around watching this guy drown?? Why didn't any one else do something except run to get a life guard that technically should have let him drown?
 

My question is if they are concerned that his section was not being watched then what would have happened if the guy WAS in the area. I mean he would run to him, still leaving that area now not patrolled by him, the other guards said when he left they took over watching over his section. So its not like it wasn't any different had the guy been like 20ft over into the "proper" section.

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicalmommy 

My question is if they are concerned that his section was not being watched then what would have happened if the guy WAS in the area. I mean he would run to him, still leaving that area now not patrolled by him, the other guards said when he left they took over watching over his section. So its not like it wasn't any different had the guy been like 20ft over into the "proper" section.

Very good point!

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicalmommy 

the other guards said when he left they took over watching over his section. So its not like it wasn't any different had the guy been like 20ft over into the "proper" section.

Did you see another story that said the other life guards watched his area, I didn't see that in this article.  The other thing is if the company doesn't have extra guards to back up someone when there is an emergency, then that is not the guards fault if he has to leave his post for an emergency whether the person is in his area or not.  If helping a victim of drowning is not something he is supposed to do, what is his job?

ETA: I didn't see there was a video, after watching the video, I guess the guy knew he was not supposed to go beyond that area of the beach, but even so, I would do the same thing he did, I couldn't sit there and watch someone drown, guess in that case, I would risk losing my job too.

Yeah, at the end of the video it says say, "IF HE WAS WELL INTENTIONED AND TRIED TO DO WHAT HE BELIEVED WAS THE RIGHT THING, EVEN IF HE DEVIATED FROM POLICY, I'M NOT SURE TERMINATION WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO." - Jeff Ellis President Jeff Ellis Management 

So it sounds like they may be reconsidering his termination.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dewdrop75 

Yeah, at the end of the video it says say, "IF HE WAS WELL INTENTIONED AND TRIED TO DO WHAT HE BELIEVED WAS THE RIGHT THING, EVEN IF HE DEVIATED FROM POLICY, I'M NOT SURE TERMINATION WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO." - Jeff Ellis President Jeff Ellis Management 

 

So it sounds like they may be reconsidering his termination.

 Probably only because it has become such a crazy outrage.

I saw on the news. this morning, that they had offered him (as well as the other lifeguards) their jobs back.  The original guy declined the offer, but some of the others accepted their positions.