According to the reports I read there was around 3 hours time difference between the attempted rescue and the successful one.
The change in weather in 3 hours can be considerable, and I know of no SAR helo with a 3 hour loiter time at a range of 200 miles.
Full marks to both crews, the first for trying in deplorable conditions, and having the sense to know when enough is enough; and the second for a successful rescue.
IMHO some of the comments in this thread say more about their writers than they do the subject in hand.