Originally Posted by
AERO_STUDENT
Obviously if the guy's breathing his last then the most expeditious option is probably the better...
On the surface you'd say that "most expeditious option" is equivalent to "closest airport", but in reality "most expeditious option" could very well translate to "most suitable, fully equipped nearby airport" instead.
Preparing a landing at an unfamiliar alternate airport with tricky approach procedures takes time, even in normal two-pilot operation, but in addition, any range advantage will be nullified rapidly in case of a go-around - which doesn't seem that unlikely for a single-pilot NDB or circling approach to an airport with a short "railway-restricted" runway.
No question in my mind that this F/O made a good decision.