Please if you are going to go wheeling on anything more than a dirt road DO NOT GO ALONE!!!!
I don't totally subscribe to this philosophy. For most people it's probably a good idea but if you are somewhat intelligent, prepared for it and most of all, let people know where you are it shouldn't be a problem.
It sounds to me like that guy was doing something he might have done even with some buddies around. For example... he wasn't totally alone. His wife was there. Why wasn't she in control of the vehicle while he was pushing?
Sometimes it's better to sit and wait out a situation like that. Especially if you let people know the area you plan on being in.
My rules for going out alone are this...
Food and water for long enough to survive the time it would take for someone to notice I'm missing and find me.
Planning. Mostly planning my route and letting others know where that is. If I'm alone I won't deviate from that route.
I also carry a Spot locator. Most situations this alone will get me out of trouble but even then, its not smart to rely on a single electronic device to get you out of trouble. Batteries fail, sat connections fail, electronic devices in general fail. It still gives piece of mind.