It’s a New Year’s Eve Tyler Rich will unfortunately never forget. The California native was in Massachusetts over the holidays, and out for a jog, when he uncovered a deceased body, later determined to be someone who had tragically taken their own life.
“I was starting the last day of the year on what was going to be about a 4 mile run,” Rich shared on social media. “After about 2.5 miles, I ran across a dam in Chicopee State Park, and then down into a heavily wooded area, looking for a way to cut up the hill back to the path. (I was fairly far off from where anyone else would be running).
“I then saw what I thought was a young homeless man sleeping,” he continued. “He was on his stomach and had a bag tied around his foot and was faced down. (Assumed this was maybe so people didn’t steal his belongings while he slept). After running around him, I felt bad for him. He was sleeping face down and just looked like he was in a bad place, so I turned around and went back to check on him.”
Not the way I planned on closing out 2020. This will be an image & moment I’ll never forget. I need to shoutout first responders & our military that look death in the eye every day, and are able to continue to live their everyday lives. https://t.co/3sRM2LN2Ux @MassAppealWWLP pic.twitter.com/NEfiKJuCFS
— Tyler Rich (@TylerRichMusic) January 1, 2021
Unfortunately, it was then that Rich discovered that the man was deceased, and ran to find help, ultimately finding a couple on the trail who had a phone and was able to call for help. When officers arrived, they found a gun, and determined the wound was likely self-inflicted.
“I’m doing what I can to process this, the image, the reality,” Rich concluded. “It’s been a rough 24 hours. Something I’ll never unsee, or forget the couple minutes it was just him and I down at the water as I figured out what the hell was going on and what I was going to do. Dead silent, middle of a state park. Just running water and him and I…He looked like a young, normal kid. Someone with a family probably wondering where he was. Whoever you are and were, RIP friend.”
Rich later shared an update on what he found out about the deceased man, whose name was Eric, and had reportedly killed himself less than an hour before Rich found his body.
“Yesterday, I spoke to his sweet mom, which was one of the toughest things I can remember,” Rich shared in a separate post. “We talked about the timeline and series of events. She told [me] the last text he sent was at 11:11. And I found him just 45 minutes later. I truly believe his spirit led me down that random side of the mountain to find him.”
The outpour of support, & prayer I’ve received from you all, for him, his family, & everyone involved is incredible. Community is so important, remember to tell people how much you love them, & to talk to someone, anyone, when you are feeling lost and alone, cause you’re not 🖤 pic.twitter.com/Idx9dNu06K
— Tyler Rich (@TylerRichMusic) January 2, 2021
The timing of 11:11 was especially significant to Rich, who released a song, “11:11” in 2018, about the loss of someone. He also shared some more details about the troubled young man, whose life ended in tragedy.
“I’ve learned a lot about him the last couple of hours from his friends and family,” Rich said. “I see he was a horror movie and pop punk fan, with what looks like an adorable rescue pup. We had a ton in common. I don’t think anyone in the area could have found him that understood him quite like me. I really feel like this was meant to be.
“I wish I got to meet him, have a beer with him, and talk about what was hurting him so much,” he added. “I’m broken over this and I didn’t even know him. Hug your loved ones as tight as you can today.”
Rich also encouraged others who are struggling to reach out, either to himself, or to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
“I’m always available to all of you,” Rich said. “If you need to talk to someone, message me. It may take me a minute to get back to you, but I will. If that doesn’t make you feel comfortable, then please call this number 1-800-273-8255.”
I’m always available to all of you. If you need to talk to someone, message me. It may take me a minute to get back to you, but I will. If that doesn’t make you feel comfortable, then please call this number 1-800-273-8255
— Tyler Rich (@TylerRichMusic) January 2, 2021
If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs help, please call 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741-741.