Man Jumps Into Lake Michigan to Save Child in Stroller
A Chicago man unable to swim plunged into the frigid waters of Lake Michigan to rescue an 8-month-old baby girl after strong winds blew her stroller into the lake.
The dramatic rescue unfolded Wednesday afternoon at Belmont Harbor near the 3200 block of North DuSable Lake Shore Drive in the Lakeview neighborhood, according to Chicago police and accounts from those involved.
Lio Cundiff, 30, a server at Oak and Honey restaurant and a stand-up comedian, was walking along the lakefront before his shift and talking on the phone with his aunt when he heard a woman scream. High winds had propelled a stroller carrying the infant into the water.
Cundiff dropped his phone, shed his jacket and jumped in.
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“I immediately dropped my phone, threw my jacket off… So I thought, ‘I guess I’m going in,’” Cundiff told Block Club Chicago.
He reached the drifting stroller and held it above the water, prioritizing the baby’s safety.
“I just held the stroller up… I was thinking, ‘I’ve got to keep her head above water.’ I was just trying to keep her safe. That was my only thought,” he said.
Cundiff added that he resolved to stay with the child no matter what.
“At that point, I was like, if she’s going down, I’m going down with her… I couldn’t live with myself if that baby hadn’t made it.”
Bystanders joined the effort: One man, Luis Kapost, tossed his jacket to Cundiff to help him stay afloat while gripping the stroller. Another located a life preserver and lowered it into the water.
With collective help, the group guided Cundiff and the baby toward a ladder and pulled them to safety.
“It was a team effort… If it wasn’t for everyone being alert and helping, I don’t know what would’ve happened. I’m very thankful,” Cundiff said.
The baby, still strapped in the stroller, was taken to Lurie Children’s Hospital for observation and was reported in good condition.
Cundiff was transported to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was kept overnight for monitoring after tests showed elevated heart enzyme levels raising concerns about potential blood clots from the cold-water immersion. He was released Thursday night and reported feeling much better.
Cundiff, reflecting on the overwhelming support since the incident, said, “It still feels unreal… The amount of people who have reached out — it’s overwhelming. I have friends I haven’t talked to in years reaching out. It means a lot. I’m just thankful for everyone who’s been so supportive.”
Friends have launched a GoFundMe to assist with his recovery and medical expenses, raising more than $11,000 by Friday afternoon.
The incident underscores the preciousness of every human life, from the youngest and most vulnerable, and the heroic instinct to protect it even at great personal risk.
