A couple of figures floating around here for how long a VFR pilot will last in IMC. Remember the CASA DVD "178 Seconds to Live"? Looks like you get nearly a whole three minutes of IMC aerobatics before you become a stat.
Back to the topic, obviously not the best decision making somewhere or another to end up in IMC, but good on the pilot for making the decision to get assistance when he did rather than to try and fix up the situation himself, therefore reducing the risk he had put himself and the 10 pax in. Although it sounds like the obvious things to do, I know some people would try to fix up the situation themselves to avoid getting attention from CASA or an ATSB investigation. I know that there is no excuse for getting into IMC, especially with passengers, but all the same he will be a better and safer pilot now in the future.