Speaking as 'someone who knows someone' who has made a genuine Mayday call;
He had no option.
He knew he was going down, with no chance of saving it, and he had three passengers on board. The time interval from knowing he was going in to impact was about 30 seconds. He made the call.
Everyone survived. The most badly injured was he, the Pilot, who never ever flew again professionally!
His response to this thread after it was brought to his attention is/was;
Fly a mile in my shoes. Then tell me what you would have done!
Until then, STFU
He also wonders just how the thread drifted to mayday calls from the first post!