MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – Video circulating on Facebook Wednesday shows a Myrtle Beach lifeguard apparently sleeping on the job, and it has some of you asking about the training of the people who are supposed to keep you safe.
The video was shot on Sunday, and it shows a Myrtle Beach lifeguard apparently asleep in his chair while on duty.
The man who shot the video seems to wake the lifeguard up.
That video was shared several times, but it was removed from Facebook.
The lifeguard works for Lacks Beach Service, a company contracted out by the City of Myrtle Beach.
Wednesday, Lacks told News 13 the man was taken off of active duty, an incident report was filed, and the man was interviewed by a supervisor.
The City of Myrtle Beach contracts the lifeguards out, and city spokesperson Mark Kruea says it will be up to the company to decide whether or not the man will keep his job.
“That’s not good if the lifeguard is asleep in the chair. That’s certainly not what the intention is to have lifeguards on the beach. The city doesn’t employ those lifeguards we have franchisees that take care of the beach service. So, we cannot discipline the lifeguards in a situation like that,” said Kruea.
The owner of Lacks Beach Service says the lifeguard will now have to have a health evaluation.
He would not say whether or not he would be fired.
The owner said heat exhaustion may have played a part in the incident and that the company was taking extra steps to be sure all of their lifeguards were properly hydrated.
