Fired Lifeguard Refuses To Take Job Back

He is certainly the lifeguard of the hour. Everyone wants a piece of 21-year-old Tomas Lopez after he made news around the world for being fired when he dared go outside his designated watch area in Hallandale Beach, southern Florida, to rescue someone. Now it seems even his former employer is regretting the decision to let him go. But Lopez isn’t interested, reports the Miami Herald.

The former lifeguard says he “humbly declined,” although he did make a point of noting that the “company offered a real good apology.” It’s little wonder. Ever since he was fired Monday, the Jeff Ellis Management Company, which is hired to protect the beach, has been inundated with criticism. Other lifeguards were also fired when they sided with Lopez, according to CBS News.

Jeff Ellis himself showed his face Thursday, telling the South Florida Sun Sentinel Lopez could have his job back, noting that he believes “the supervisors acted hastily.” To the head of the Jeff Ellis Management Company the key question was whether any area of the beach was left unattended while Lopez went out of his designated area. Since the answer to that was no, Lopez should not have been fired, Ellis said.

Now Lopez plans to focus on his studies at Broward College. Once he manages to catch his breath. For now, as he told CNN, his phone won’t stop ringing.