Ah....I should have read the entire post before commenting. I have a bad habit of doing that. I see that you already have your man's background thoroughly thought out. Well done. So much for my cavalry idea. Hope he makes it long enough to make it back to home and blighty but, well...we're all aware of the odds against it I'm afraid.
"From our orbital vantage point, we observe an earth without borders, full of peace, beauty and magnificence, and we pray that humanity as a whole can imagine a borderless world as we see it, and strive to live as one in peace." Astronaut William C. McCool RIP, January 29, 2003 - Space Shuttle Columbia