The term bellringer is so overused that its definition stretches far and wide and varies from person to person. In its classic definition, a true bellringer is almost always accompanied with a ringing sensation in the ears. However it is not impossible to bypass that specific physical sensation and still have what’s considered a ringer.
For most, the concept of a bellringer entails intense euphoria, momentary inability or desire to speak, and a state that resembles almost body and mind paralysis. Like all crack hits, this feeling is fleeting and within a few minutes the person should be back to “normal”.
From what you described, it is definitely possible your friend had a ringer. But he may also have had a very strong hit of God knows what mixed in with the coke that flat out incapacitated him ... but not in a “fun” way.