I say he did the right thing. That is if it's actually like it sounds. He could only save one and the other would die.
When I was a kid, me and my brother made my mom cry from acting up so much. When my dad got home he broke it down. He said "Son, before you were here it was me and your mom. I love her more than you. If the house were on fire, I'd save her first then get you. Do not fuck with my wife." It was the first time I realized I wasn't the most important person on Earth.
If it's a good marriage, the spouse comes before the kids. People try to make these punk ass kids the centers of the fucking universe and these kids turn into dirtbag adults that can't do shit for themselves.
I understand if you hate your spouse/baby momma, of course you'll love your kid more. But in a good relationship (if those exist any more), your spouse/girlfriend comes first.