'"Too low for VFR" flight following' is what I heard on the video. It's an important difference- being to low for VFR or too low for reliable position and/or communication. I've been 'too low' for radio and radar at a 1000' and better in level terrain, mountains make it worse. It looks kinda bumpy where this flight was. I can imagine hundreds of terrifying scenarios for this flight's pilot to have encountered besides the standard IIMC assumption.
p.s. My last employer's operations manual recommended against attempting a 180 in an IIMC encounter. Flying straight and level, initiating a climb is much safer and easier than attempting visual surface reference while transitioning to instruments. The urge to descend will kill you dead, amen!- in IIMC.