I would hope that TC's comments are simply a wind up, and I think SASLESS is spot on. Anyone who's been there knows what it's like to have the seat cushion embedded.
Regardless as to whether the aircraft is legal to fly in civy airspace, in a jam you do what you have to. I don't think the Apache is known for its long legs, so perhaps they didn't have IFR fuel.
For Bronx
Having an airfield 15 miles away is useless if you're hover taxying along a highway; it could be over and hour away! And leaving the relative safety of the highway (masts etc) to strike off cross-country would have been riskier, IMHO.
I say well done.
LP