Personally I have always avoid to take any amount in exchanges.
You friend at least he has been luck enough to leave these coins in a decent exchange.
In these years it was full of scam exchanges and a lot of people had trouble even for trivial amount.
but if you think these are crazy increase of value. people thinks (errating) that only people that bougt btc for few cents could have decent profit.
Meanwhile even few years ago it was already possible save and get an impressive increase.