A group of quick-thinking bystanders saved the life of an 8-month-old baby girl Wednesday afternoon after a powerful gust of wind blew her stroller into Lake Michigan at Belmont Harbor on Chicago's North Side — and the man who jumped in to save her says he doesn't even know how to swim.
Chicago police said the stroller, with the infant inside, fell into the water around 3 p.m. near the 3200 block of North DuSable Lake Shore Drive. A wind advisory was in effect for the area Wednesday through 6 p.m., with gusts of up to 40 miles per hour reported. Despite several days of unseasonably warm temperatures, Lake Michigan remains dangerously frigid this time of year.
Lio Cundiff, 30, was nearby on a phone call when he heard the mother screaming and watched the stroller get swept into the lake. He had one thought as he floated in the icy water balancing the stroller: "I guess if this baby's going down, then I'm going down with her." Cundiff jumped in without hesitation, even though he can't swim, and fought to keep the baby above water.
"We dipped a couple times," he told CBS News Chicago from his hospital bed Thursday. "There was one moment where I was like, I don't know how much longer I'm gonna hold on, so I just kind of grabbed her hand and just rubbed her hand a little."
Bystander Luis Kapost, 43, also rushed to help. He tossed one sleeve of his Chicago Cubs jacket to Cundiff in the water and held the other end himself, keeping the pair from drifting further. Witnesses also threw in a nearby life ring and called 911. "Took a bunch of us to get the kid out," Kapost said.
Cundiff said he believed there was a language barrier with the baby's mother, who he thought may be Ukrainian, and that she appeared to be in too much shock to assist. He kept the stroller upright throughout to keep the baby's head above water until everyone was pulled to safety on dry land.
The Chicago Fire Department transported both the baby girl and Cundiff to area hospitals. The infant was taken to Lurie Children's Hospital for observation and was initially listed in good condition. Cundiff was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center for heart monitoring and overnight observation. Area Three detectives are investigating.
"I'm just glad the stroller was up, not face down," Cundiff said. "The baby dipped under a couple times, but I was able to keep her up. And she was breathing and crying when we got her out. I hope she has a really cool future, and I'm happy I was there."
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