Riyadh's Civil Defence department took disciplinary measures against one of its staff members after he surfed through the mobile phone of a Saudi man who died in a horrific car accident on Saturday, Gulf News reported.
"A self-shot short video showed the Civil Defence staff member going through the latest messages sent and received by the driver seconds before the accident," Gulf News wrote.
In the now-viral video, the unidentified staff member shockingly turns his camera around and films the crash victim's lifeless body.
He also films himself scrolling through messages the deceased had allegedly sent to his mother moments before the crash.
Even though the man is also heard praying for the victim while urging people not to text while driving, people were still outraged by his complete disregard of the deceased's most basic rights.
The video went viral on social media and sparked outrage among users
After the video sparked backlash on social media, Mohammad Al Hammadi, a spokesperson for Saudi Arabia's Civil Defence department said the employee’s behaviour was unacceptable.
He also added that the individual would be questioned and punished as per regulations.
“His attitude was a personal behaviour that does not represent the values of the Civil Defence personnel who are keen on respecting the dead and exert their utmost efforts to save and rescue victims," he stressed.
"We have contacted the family of the victim and offered them our apologies for the behaviour of the staff member,” Al Hammadi added.
People were left shocked
"How heartless of him to film the victim as he lay dead on the ground. I can't even imagine what his family will go through if they ever see this footage. May the victim rest in peace and may God grant his parents patience."
"Going through the victim's phone and filming him? This is outrageous"
Misuse of technology at its worst...
"Unfortunately, most people have become so obsessed with filming everything with their mobile phones. Even the sanctity of death didn't stop this man from doing something so horrific. Misusing technology is now something that everyone does."
Many called on authorities to punish the Civil Defense staff member
"I hope he receives the most severe punishment for what he did. He has no respect for the sanctity of death nor for the feelings of the victim's family."
While others tried to defend his actions
"I agree that what he did was wrong, but this was an unintentional mistake. In no way did this employee mean to cause harm here, he was simply just trying to warn people that they shouldn't text and drive."