Liability More Important Than Life?

You'll never believe the news story I came across this morning from Hallandale Beach, Florida.  Recently, lifeguard Tomas Lopez, while on duty, saw a man struggling in the surf. He took action and left his lifeguard chair to  race over to save the man.  By the time he got there, Lopez and other beach-goers were able to help him drag the unconscious man from the surf.  The drowning victim is recovering at a hospital at this time.

You would think that lifeguard Tomas Lopez would be heralded by his employer.  Not so.  In fact, Lopez was fired  this past Monday for vacating his lifeguarding zone.

A spokesman for Jeff Ellis and Associates, the aquatic safety contractor that fired Lopez, said in a statement to the Associate Press that "We have liability issues and can't go out of the protected area."

In addition, six of Lopez's coworkers protested, saying they would have done the same thing and they were all fired too.  Can this really be happening?  Is liability more important than life now?  It's so sad that this company has taken that stance.  I have no doubt that justice will prevail and that these brave lifeguards, who took a stand will be made heroes in the media and no doubt will end up with jobs where it's more about people than liability.