If you were right, the easier, more logical thing to do would have been to just disappear from the forum completely, without writing any sort of explanation for his disappearance.
It all depends how you look at it.
We already had several attempts of forum members claiming to be sick and they even asked donations for that, directly or indirectly.
There are some members from our local board who left the forum because of their busy work schedule or new life situation, but I wouldn't ask anyone to show me any proof or reason for leaving.