Good job helping him out. Sometimes when things like that happen you dont think clearly in the moment and having someone else helps. 
Does the 2011 have the ability to put the key in a special slot so you can shift it out of park into neutral and then start it when the brake switch fails?
Does the 2011 have the ability to put the key in a special slot so you can shift it out of park into neutral and then start it when the brake switch fails?