A kayaking family, along with two passersby, helped rescue an 18-year-old Town of Tonawanda man who fell from his bicycle and was found lying face-down and unconscious in the shallows of Ellicott Creek off Old Niagara Falls Boulevard on Monday evening, Amherst police said.
The victim, Matthew Hovagimian of Raintree Island, was listed in critical condition this morning in Erie County Medical Center, authorities said.
Following a preliminary investigation, police believe the man may have suffered from some kind of medical condition that led to his falling off his mountain bike on a bike path near the creek.
A kayaking family out for a paddle on a gorgeous night spotted Hovagimian at about 7:45 p.m. Monday. Family members pulled the young man from the creek to shore and called for help. One passing bicyclist and a motorcyclist heard the calls, and someone in the group began administering CPR.
Emergency personnel from the Ellicott Creek Fire Co. and Twin City Ambulance responded to the scene.
Hovagimian had no identification on him at the time of the accident and was initially considered a John Doe. He was revived at the scene, taken to DeGraff Memorial Hospital in North Tonawanda and then transferred to ECMC.
Authorities don’t know how long the man was in the water.
“Judging by his condition, I would guess it wasn’t more than a few minutes,” Amherst Police Capt. Enzio G. Villalta said. “He couldn’t have been in the water for an extended period of time, because they were able to revive him.”
Amherst Police are asking anyone with information about the mishap to call them at 689-1311.
The victim, Matthew Hovagimian of Raintree Island, was listed in critical condition this morning in Erie County Medical Center, authorities said.
Following a preliminary investigation, police believe the man may have suffered from some kind of medical condition that led to his falling off his mountain bike on a bike path near the creek.
A kayaking family out for a paddle on a gorgeous night spotted Hovagimian at about 7:45 p.m. Monday. Family members pulled the young man from the creek to shore and called for help. One passing bicyclist and a motorcyclist heard the calls, and someone in the group began administering CPR.
Emergency personnel from the Ellicott Creek Fire Co. and Twin City Ambulance responded to the scene.
Hovagimian had no identification on him at the time of the accident and was initially considered a John Doe. He was revived at the scene, taken to DeGraff Memorial Hospital in North Tonawanda and then transferred to ECMC.
Authorities don’t know how long the man was in the water.
“Judging by his condition, I would guess it wasn’t more than a few minutes,” Amherst Police Capt. Enzio G. Villalta said. “He couldn’t have been in the water for an extended period of time, because they were able to revive him.”
Amherst Police are asking anyone with information about the mishap to call them at 689-1311.