Good for that guy.
Since this is America . . . when is his book coming out?
I don't know about a book, but to me he tried to save the girl and in my book he's a hero. I can remember many, many years ago swimming at Rockaway Park in New York. There was always a lifeguard on duty and he watched for sharks also. When he sighted one, he signalled that we should all get out of the water.