Yeah, that person's story is very weird. Come on, you wait till you've got the gas mask on your face to want to stop it!!!! I don't believe that for one minute, that's probably after the fact lying if you ask me. Just like he'd lied to himself and others before.
This person must have been the least introspective in the world if he really said stop that late!!! That sounds like crap, and there's not much point to his story. I've got pity for him, but not that much compassion... Usually, it's not hard for me to be companissonate.