Gust of wind blows baby girl in stroller into Lake Michigan, man helps save child

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CHICAGO (WLS) -- A gust of wind blew a baby girl in a stroller into Lake Michigan at Belmont Harbor on Chicago's North Side Wednesday afternoon, the man who dove in to save the child told ABC7.

Chicago police said the stroller with the 8-month-old inside fell in the water about 3 p.m.

Multiple witnesses on the scene quickly reacted and rescued the baby from the water, police said.

The little girl was taken to Lurie Children's Hospital for observation and was initially listed in good condition, CPD said.

Lio Cundiff says he doesn't even swim but knew he had only seconds to act when he says a gust of wind blew a stroller away from a mother and into the lake with an 8-month-old girl still inside it.

"Her kid could've been gone," Cundiff said.

A daring dive by the good Samaritan helped to the save the life of the 8-month-old girl who fell into Belmont Harbor.

"I see a stroller getting blown into the lake... and a lady screaming," Cundiff said.

Her mother was watching helplessly, he said.

"I can tell she was too panicked to do anything, so I was, like, 'I guess I'm jumping in,'" Cundiff said. "That baby was - I wasn't going to let that baby die. That's crazy."

Cundiff spoke to ABC7 from his hospital bed following the harrowing rescue of the infant during a Wednesday afternoon that saw windy conditions. Despite warmer air temperatures this week, Lake Michigan remains frigid.

"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."

Other witnesses helped them back on dry land.

Police say the girl was taken to the hospital for observation and was initially listed in good condition.

The girl was in good condition all due to the bystander-turned-rescuer who put his own life on the line to save another that's just starting to grow.

"I hope she has a really cool future, and I'm happy I was there," Cundiff said.

Cundiff says he's in the hospital for heart monitoring and hopes to be released after an overnight stay.

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