[Updated, 9:45 p.m.] West Hartford Police and Fire officials responded just after 6 a.m. Thursday after runners discovered a man lying at the side of a path.

By Ronni Newton

A 34-year-old man who fell off his bike Wednesday spent the night lying in the grassy area at the side of a paved path at the MDC Reservoir in West Hartford and was rescued after two runners found him early Thursday morning.

Police said they responded to MDC Reservoir no. 1, at 1420 Farmington Ave., at 6:06 a.m. Thursday after receiving a report of an injured man lying in the grassy area next to the Red Loop.

Tim Lynch said that he and his friend Mike Baxer were running on the Red Loop in the reservoir when they saw the bike on the path. They were right at the base of Reservoir no. 2, at the top of the loop on a hill, Lynch said. The man was lying nearby in the grass.

According to Lynch, the man’s helmet and glasses appeared to have flown off as a result of the fall and were found, along with his cellphone, a distance away.

Neither Lynch nor Baxer had their phones, but they were able to use the victim’s phone to call 911, just before the phone battery died. The man was somewhat disoriented but was able to give his name and the passcode for the phone.

The victim had been in the reservoir overnight, after falling off his bicycle on Wednesday. Police said he suffered multiple injuries to his face, jaw, right arm, and legs as a result of the fall.

West Hartford Fire Department paramedics also responded, and according to the report of the incident the victim was responsive to “some of the fire medic’s questions.”

Police said the victim’s vehicle was located in the parking lot.

The victim was transported to Hartford Hospital via AMR ambulance. His condition was not disclosed.

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