Mexican TV reporter who inspired a host of memes after being carried through flood waters has been fired from her job.

Lydia Cumming was criticised for not wanting to get her feet wet after a photo of her being carried by locals in Puebla, central Mexico, was shared around the world using the hashtag #LadyReportera.

The journalist, who was sent to cover the floods, apologised for the incident but has since lost her job at Mexican media organisation TV Azteca.

Lydia Cumming

“The photos posted lack professionalism and tact. All we wanted was to help and now we’ve created negativity,” she said.

Ms Cumming admitted that she didn't bring the appropriate footwear with her and added in an interview with El Pais that she thought it would be rude to decline the offer.

“I try to maintain a relationship of empathy with people and was afraid of sounding rude if I refused the favour. I was [carried] for two seconds and then asked them to put me [down],” she said [translated].

“Despite the bitter pill, I want to be a journalist, I love this profession, I have covered several floods, where I have [got] wet and have never cared.

“[Social media] can work in your favour or against you … I must be more careful and be more aware of what is shared in my network.”

She added: “Someone advised me to tell my version of events from Twitter, where it all started. I admit my mistakes … it was a mistake to let the picture be shared and not react in time when all this was happening.”

In a statement released on Twitter, TV Azteca said it “does not penalise the dissemination of the images but the lack of respect shown towards neighbours who were part of the reporter’s coverage”.

“For this reason Lydia Cumming is no longer part of this home,” it added. “TV Azteca collaborators are obligated to respect all people and the code of conduct that is part of our company.”