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When did heroism become a 'liability'?

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    Lifeguard's firing prompts outcry

  • Duration 4:16
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-- a lifeguard fired for leaving his post to save a drowning man.

Now the company that employed him is reviewing his termination.

Tomas Lopez leaving his own on Helen -- beach.

In Florida after a swimmer was spotted drowning in waters nearby.

His dismissal in raging it's his coworkers several reportedly fired for defending his action percent of they would do the same thing.

At least two are said to have quit here's Thomas though explaining what happened on FOX & Friends this morning -- Well I guess yelling -- screaming -- you goes someone challenges go.

So -- star running -- kept running time -- found the person.

Being jacked up on them out of the water -- jump in the water and grab him I just weren't.

I was thinking that now -- -- is ridiculous rule.

We're joined now by two of Thomas coworkers who were fired -- Genco and Travis -- the guys thanks so much for joining us.

Were you there when this incident took place when when your when your colleague went and -- this guy.

Know that that's the reason we went into work the next day because we're under that -- and everyone quit that day I was there.

Not just so I understand and and the -- -- -- understand a Thomas was that his post and this person that needed help with not swimming.

In front of his post but rather off to decide how do you understand the story Travis.

Will be heavily zone that we weren't -- -- -- -- -- us and like we're not designated to go outside of our zone but his own life.

There's aside the beast that's unprotected and supposedly.

And down and that's where it the victim was at at the time he was somewhere south of -- -- And sword when you're trained to be a lifeguard.

And you work we should mention not by Helen -- beach but by a private company.

Jeff -- management that handles all the lifeguards.

In in your town in Florida when they train you to do your job.

Did does it ever come -- do they ever talk talk to you about what what would happen or what should happen if you see somebody who need some help outside of your zone.

-- they've they've about the policy and and -- affect them when they did that they explain to all of us why were not allowed to and that if we would.

Now follow these rules then we would be fired.

So you understood this going in and and obviously Thomas did to that people are swimming in these areas where -- what -- your own risk.

They really are at their own risk but is there anybody on your staff anybody that you guys know -- work with who wouldn't go and try to help someone who needed help.

I honestly don't know.

So what happened Travis you found out about Thomas and then how did you guys get -- -- fired -- you first.

Well we went to work to become the next day we are both scheduled.

And round -- there's like you know what they were on stand.

Until like clothing and then down we asked.

We get asked by one of the supervisors if the question that would like determine whether we have a job or not if if we -- going -- the safety -- Thomas did.

I have something Regina some ozone and down when he asking a question I say that might of course are the only end and -- -- let anybody.

Drowned if I could if I had anything to do if if I could do anything about our I would do it and he -- -- I was a liability of the company so was no longer working.

Resort -- to tough out there lot of people unemployed looking for work.

You knew that by going out and saying this that you were threatening the -- your own job to get any hesitation.

And died they don't wanna work for it and it.

This is how they -- the things.

Now I understand that the company is reviewing the situation have they contacted either -- -- they wanna sit down talk about this and maybe give you guys -- jobs back.

We were contacted and then told us they wanted to speak to us who haven't spoken.

Travesty plan on talking to them.

I'm David try to contact me but.

I'm not I'm reading it I'm not -- -- -- changeup -- it would that would particular company.

Because.

And I'm just I'm just that.

Well we hope -- find some work as lifeguards.

Someplace else down in South Florida and we appreciate you coming on and talking to us about this story Georgia -- -- Travis Madrid all the best you both.

Very.

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