Not a comment on this specific incident, just something for any “hobby” pilots reading from an ATCO: If you have a pressurisation issue, descend. Don’t worry about me, you don’t even need to warn me, I’ll know what’s going on when I see that FL dropping like a stone, and potentially selected FL in mode S. Just gimme a holler when you are on the way down and have all the more important stuff sorted (like squawking 7700) first.
My grumpier colleagues might get a bit rude, but at least you’ll be alive. Just my 2 cents.