The internet's calling foul on a New Zealand harbormaster's sacking after he rescues a drowning orca whale against official orders. Helplessly watching the tangled killer whale struggle for more than 16 hours with no official rescue attempts planned, an exasperated Mat Collicot finally took matters into his own hands and led a volunteer rescue team that successfully freed the orca.

Once news of his premature "retirement" broke, angry thousands have signed a Change.org petition to reinstate Mat and give the brave harbormaster a public apology.