The guy is quoted as saying "I had a very uncomfortable night after saving that guy’s life."
That statement, right there, shows me the character of the guy.
I was a lifeguard at pools and beaches for serveral years and spent a couple years lifeguarding at
the first artificial whitewater course in the U.S. here in South Bend, IN. I get asked by people all the time if I ever saved anybody's life, especially by my children. I always respond with the truth... I don't know. I really do not know if the person would have certainly died had I not pulled them out of the water when I did. Someone else might have helped them, they might have found firm footing, a wave might have pushed them onto a sand bar or a giant catfish might swallow them and spit them out on shore.
You know when you lose somebody. That's a fact. However, you never know if you actually saved somebody and claiming that you did reveals your character.
As for water rescues... poor planning and inadequate backup plans have led to the deaths of many a rescuer. The first thing they teach you is to always know your limits. I've let several big men flounder in the water until I knew they were tired enough that I could physically handle them. Drowning folks do not cooperate with rescue people. They panic. They grab you and try to climb up you to get out of the water, which, of course, pushes you under. Then you die. Unless you are trained properly in physical techniques and mental preparedness, chances are pretty good that you're gonna die, the drowning person will tire out and be saved by others and you will be pulled from the water several hours later by a search team.
I haven't lifeguarded in 15 years or so. My physical strength is no longer up to par to attempt to pull someone from moving water. I know this because I get winded playing with my kids in a three foot deep backyard pool. I eat lunch by the river several days a week and frequently watch the white water rescue school train law enforcement officers and rescue personell from all over the world on both the river and the man-made course. They do this several times a year and keep current on their training. The rescue staff at the man-made course practice often just to keep up their skills.
Today, if I saw someone fall in the river, I would have my doubts about going after them. Instead, I would contact authorities, shout instructions to the victim and wait to see if an opportunity arrises to perform a resue within my personal limits before capable rescuers arrived. I know when I will be useless to the victim and there is no point in adding to the problem.
Should the guy have gotten a ticket? Once he "saved" the guy, he should have gotten out of the water and stayed with the victim. Instead, he chose to swim back across the river. Yes, he should have gotten a ticket.
