Meet the ‘Great Lake Jumper’: Defying Chicago’s Frigid Winters with Daily Lake Michigan Plunges

In Chicago, regardless of the weather, a man known as “The Great Lake Jumper” plunges into the chilly waters of Lake Michigan every morning.

While taking such a dive on a frigid day like Friday might not be advisable, this individual remains undeterred by the cold.

ABC7 delved into his story to uncover what motivates him to continue this daily tradition without a single miss for over five years.

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This Friday, the Chicago region is bracing under an Extreme Cold Warning. A Cold Weather Advisory is in effect from noon Friday through 9 a.m. Saturday, covering the entire area.

Despite the biting temperatures, some brave souls were spotted taking the icy plunge on Friday morning.

Among them was Dan O’Connor, one of four individuals who either jumped or slowly entered the lake. O’Connor has maintained this chilly habit consistently for several years.

It is a ritual that’s been going on for years and one that subzero temperatures didn’t stop as Chicago’s Great Lake Jumper took his daily plunge into Lake Michigan.

Like clockwork, O’Connor was flipping into Lake Michigan.

“It’s become part of my routine,” O’Connor said. “Wake up, have a cup of coffee and drive to the lake and jump in.”

The 58-year old husband and father has now leapt into Lake Michigan at Montrose Harbor every morning for the past five and a half. Even with Friday’s icy waters, it was no different.

“Today for as bad as the temperature is and for as low as the temperature is, it wasn’t bad there wasn’t much ice buildup,” O’Connor said. “I really didn’t have to chop ice today.”

Even with subzero temperatures, he took the plunge and so did four others while several people watched.

“We’re still Chicagoans, and Chicagoans are built different,” O’Connor said.

O’Connor says his “addictive” dunk into lake waters began during the COVID-19 pandemic on June 13, 2020 after his wife gave him a friendly suggestion about how to cure his hangover.

“And like a good husband I listen to my wife,” O’Connor said. “She told me to go jump at the lake and I did.”

Despite the holidays, family gatherings, and life’s other commitments, the Lincoln Square neighborhood resident has managed to keep his streak going. He’s made 2,049 jumps so far.

The jumps have made him a bit of a local celebrity and a favorite on social media. While he says Friday’s jump got around 200,000 views in just two hours, he maintains his dives are about inner peace.

“It’s something positive and I love the internal rush that I get and it’s an amazing feeling,” O’Connor said.

He says he’s never been hurt during his jumps and always tries to be as safe possible, even keeping a sledgehammer handy to break up ice if necessary.

“We’ve got this great lake and and it’s right here on our doorstep in Chicago and it’s there to use and I’m using it,” O’Connor said.

One question is how long will O’Connor continue to jump in the lake. He says until he can’t.

Frostbite risk

The temperatures could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.

“It’s really important they wear a number of layers, staying very warm, but also staying very dry. Making sure you’re also not wearing anything very, very tight that restricts any blood flow,” Endeavor Health Elmhurst Hospital Dr. Ameer Sharifzadeh said. “If you start to feel any kind of tingling or numbness, any a lot of pain, absolutely get indoors, make sure you’re getting warm.”