Faticoni was an Italian-American who discovered during his early childhood that he was able to float for long periods of time, although he did not use his abilities professionally until later life.
[2] Doctors at Harvard University tested Faticoni's abilities by observing him in a pool of water with a 20-pound lead weight tied to him.
[1] Though contemporary scientists were unable to find illusionism in Faticoni's work, the media frequently suggested that his unusually abilities were due to other-worldly forces.
[1][3] Although the 'Human Cork' promised to reveal the secret of his buoyancy, he died before he was able to,[3] passing away on August 2, 1931, at St. Vincent's Hospital whilst visiting relatives in Jacksonville, Florida.
[1] Faticoni's obituary in The New York Times carried the headline; "Human Cork dies, secret untold".