I wound up "inadvertantly in IMC" once before I got my IR. It was extremely disorientating, and I can understand how easily people lose control. It took a huge amount of self control to stay calm and apply the 180 degree turn learned in training; and that was after a good 5+ hours IMC training post PPL with the RAF reserves. I don't think the PPL training would have been enough, which is a very sobering thought.