Wind blew a stroller with an 8-month-old into the water — when a man jumped in, another bystander’s Cubs jacket became lifesaver
Freak accidents are any parent's worst nightmare. Michigan resident Lio Cundiff was on a call with his aunt when he heard a woman scream. As he turned behind, he witnessed a stroller carrying an 8-month-old being blown away by the wind and falling into Lake Michigan. However, when he jumped in, another bystander ended up extending help, thus playing crucial role in the life-saving rescue. According to PEOPLE on February 19, 2026, the two bystanders' quick thinking saved the mother from losing her baby.
It was a quiet afternoon at the Lake Michigan side when Cundiff was noticed a mother panicking, and he knew he had to act quickly. Without any hesitation, he jumped into the water, after realizing the stroller carrying her baby had landed in the water. "I wasn't going to let that baby die," he told reporters. However, watching Cundiff jump into the water, another bystander, Luis Kapost, threw his Chicago Cubs jacket for Cundiff to hold on to while he was saving the baby.
Cundiff revealed that the baby kept dipping under water a couple of times; however, he was able to keep hold of the little girl. Not just Kapost and Cundiff, but many other onlookers joined the duo in the rescue mission. A few witnesses threw them a life ring and began contacting emergency services. Thanks to everybody's joint efforts, the kid was able to be brought back from the waters and was immediately taken to Lurie's Children's Hospital in Chicago, where it was confirmed that her condition was stable. While speaking to reporters, Cundiff wanted to wish the little girl a speedy recovery and hopes for a "cool future" for the toddler.
He also expressed his happiness over saving the baby's life and for being there at the right moment. On the other hand, Kapost had huge praise for the bystander whose quick thinking to jump immediately saved a life. Calling him an absolute rockstar, he told Chicago Sun Times, "That's the epitome of a hero, someone who's going to act, to help somebody else they don't know, even though they're placing their own life in danger." Quick thinking saves lives. Take the story of Logan Hayes. When Hayes saw a car plunge into a lake, he quickly jumped into the water to save the passenger inside.
Hayes first reached the back passenger door, which was still above water, and helped a woman out of the vehicle. But when he pulled her by the hips, he suddenly felt movement against him and realized she was pregnant. He helped the woman and got her to the shore. Immediately after being taken to the hospital, the woman gave birth to her newborn baby. These stories of good Samaritans remind us of the importance of acting quickly and selflessly when a person is in danger.