Gary: The pilot was the first to exit the plane. As far as I'm aware he didn't assist anybody
Two pilot aircraft -exits being one main door and two window exits down the back. The pilot probably has no idea if the passengers have been able to get out so his first duty would be to leap out and try to open the main door to evacuate everyone only to find it is jammed. He then finds a window exit and gets out presuming others will follow him through. In the water filled cabin it is pitch dark and people are not only disorientated but can't locate the exits.
Seems to me that rather than deserting everyone, the pilot did the best he could to get exits open to facilitate everyone's escape.