HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (July 4, 2012)--Lifeguard Tomas Lopez helped save a drowning man and got fired for the effort because he left the section of the south Florida beach his company is paid to patrol.

The Orlando-based company, Jeff Ellis and Associates, said Lopez broke a company rule and could have put beachgoers in his section in jeopardy.

The Sun Sentinel reported Lopez was on duty Monday at Hallandale Beach when a beachgoer asked for help.

Lopez said he ran to assist a man who was struggling in the water south of his post.

By the time Lopez arrived, witnesses had pulled the drowning man out of the water.

Lopez and an off-duty nurse helped him until paramedics arrived.

The victim survived and was hospitalized.

Afterward, Lopez was fired.

Two other lifeguards quit in protest.