I agree with dmr, how far can you take compassion before you just meet a wall or rudeness and walk away? Thing is, our independent lifestyle is also independent for 'casualties' in our society. Apart from the Banbury sinking on Boxing Day morning (night), just yesterday, only 800 yards or so further south on the Oxford police broke into a boat due to concerns of boating neighbours. NB Whiskey Mac - they found the owner dead, probably for a month. Neighbours had talked to him about how he was but he refused all help. I was told that he looked ill and yellow in the face (liver?), he was believed to be a heavy drinker (I was told) .. .after not running his engine or using coal for a long while boating neighbours called the police. So sad really, as had he accepted help when it was offered they would have whisked him off to a hospital - but what can you do? You can only interfere so much and then you back away.
But, the thing is, and this is actually easy to see. The three dimensional personal space that humans create is an exact analogue image of how their mind is. This is something humans cannot hide. Look at the sunk Banbury boat, with all the junk on it ,and you can see, clearly, exactly how Steve's mind works - you can use this, this 'first tell' in any situation -- go forward and help, or walk quietly away!