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Chicago Comedian Who Dived Into Lake Michigan to Save Baby Is Recovering as Fundraiser Surges

He says the rescue was a human act that challenges dehumanizing portrayals of trans people.

Overview

  • Lio Cundiff, 30, leapt into Lake Michigan at Belmont Harbor after a gust blew an eight-month-old’s stroller into the water.
  • National Weather Service data cited by local outlets recorded winds up to 50 mph and lake temperatures in the mid-30s Fahrenheit.
  • Cundiff, who says he can barely swim, kept the child’s head above water until bystanders used a jacket and a life preserver to help pull them out.
  • The baby was taken to Lurie Children’s Hospital in good condition, and Cundiff spent a night at Advocate Illinois Masonic for monitoring before discharge.
  • A GoFundMe for his medical bills and lost wages has surpassed $69,700, and Cundiff says he is home recovering and the baby is doing great.