A 2-year-old child in its stroller was blown by the strong
wind into Lake Michigan and he was declared
Saturday to be in critical condition, after remaining for at least 15 minutes
in the cold water.
The child’s grandfather, who was pushing the stroller around
the lake Friday afternoon, did his best trying to
save the little boy, the Chicago Fire Department said.
Witnesses reported that the 65-year-old man jumped on the harbor
and struggled in the water, crying desperately: “Child!” “Child!” while continuously
pointing to the dark water.
The little boy was still strapped into his stroller and the
lower half of his body was in the water for a long time.
"The lower half of his body was in the water,'' said
witness John Derscheid, according to Chicago Sun-Times. “I ran over there and
he was looking around in the water. He had his head dunked in the water. . . .
I said 'there's a ladder down here.' "
Divers from the Chicago Fire Department rescued the boy from
the 40-degree water in about 15 minutes. His grandfather was also pulled to
safety by the harbor master.
The toddler, who was unconscious after the rescue, was
hospitalized at the Children’s Memorial
Hospital Friday afternoon, while the
grandfather was taken to St. Joseph’s
Hospital, in serious condition.
Derscheid declared he had been strongly impressed by the
viewed scene, saying that the image of the desperate grandfather trying to save
his grandson would remain with him for the rest of his life.
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