A Florida man often known as “Lieutenant Dan” had TikTok viewers around the globe on the sting of their seats ready for Hurricane Milton to go via Tampa in hopes he survived after he selected to experience out the storm in his small sailboat. And he did survive.
“I wasn’t going anywhere,” Joseph Malinowski informed Fox News Digital throughout an interview after the storm. “I never planned on leaving. The storm didn’t scare me because I didn’t see it. I didn’t write it. I didn’t make it happen.”
Despite pleas from native residents, legislation enforcement officers and the mayor of Tampa, Jane Castor, to depart and search shelter, Malinowski selected to remain put together with his boat tied to Bayshore Boulevard close to Tampa General Hospital. He additionally rode out Hurricane Helene in the identical boat.
“It’s a boat,” he stated. “You keep the water out of the boat, you’ll be fine.”
HURRICANE HELENE CAUSES DIRE IV FLUID SHORTAGE AT HOSPITALS NATIONWIDE
Tampa Police attempt to persuade a person residing on his boat often known as Jay and nicknamed “Lieutenant Dan” to depart for his security as Tampa prepares for the arrival of Hurricane Milton Oct. 9, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Castor spoke throughout a press convention Wednesday night time and stated the person the Tampa group refers to as “Lieutenant Dan” had been taken to a shelter. But dwell TikTok feeds and information interviews indicated he was nonetheless in his boat refusing to depart the vessel.
Malinowski's “Lieutenant Dan” nickname seems to have come from his resemblance to the “Forrest Gump” character with the identical identify, performed by actor Gary Sinise. Malinowski is lacking a part of his left leg and makes use of crutches to get round.
Joseph Malinowski, aka “Lieutenant Dan,” rode out Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene in the Tampa, Fla., space in a small sailboat and survived each. (Fox News Digital)
“Did the wind come through heavy? Yeah. Was it crazy for a little while? Yes, it was. Did it bother me? No, ‘cause I knew what I was doing,” Malinowski stated.
“I know I’d be fine,” he stated. “God had his finger on me.”
Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida on Wednesday night as a Category 3 storm, surprising the Tampa Bay group that was already reeling from Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm that barreled via Southeast Florida in late September, damaging houses and killing over 200 folks throughout Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
Malinowski went viral on social media platforms when customers understood he was adamant about remaining in place.
GRANDMOTHER'S BIBLE SURVIVES HURRICANE HELENE AFTER STORM DESTROYS HER HOME: ‘IT WAS THE LORD’
He caught the eye of TikToker Adin Ross, who supplied to buy “Lieutenant Dan” a $50,000-$100,000 boat and initiated a full-time dwell stream TikTok deal the place Malinowski may doc his “voyages” and produce revenue for the lone sailor through social media.
However, Ross rescinded the provide when he discovered Malinowski’s prolonged criminal record, which incorporates arrests for hitting a police officer and allegedly making an attempt to set a lady on fireplace, in keeping with the New York Post.
Ownership of the boat “Lt. Dan” used to hunker down is in query in a Tampa courtroom, in keeping with a report from the New York Post. (Fox News Digital)
“He offered it to me. I never asked for it,” Malinowski informed one TikToker who recorded him dwell. “If you’re worried about your image and who you have working for you, you should have done your due diligence and looked me up before you made me an offer of $100,000 sign-on bonus, $50,000 a month with a $100,000 boat.”
His different previous fees embody drug possession, tried breaking and getting into and aggravated battery with a lethal weapon, according to the New York Post.
NORTH CAROLINA MOM OF 4 SWEPT UP BY HURRICANE HELENE FLOODING IN FRONT OF HUSBAND, 8-YEAR-OLD SON
Despite backlash, Malinowski stated he plans to experience out all future Tampa hurricanes in his boat, although the New York Post reported an open case in which the boat’s possession got here into query.
Malinowski stated as Milton inflicted injury upon Tampa Bay and “cosmetic damage” to the boat, he began speaking to God and meditating.
Wind gusts in St. Petersburg, fewer than 25 miles from Tampa, elevated to 102 mph, in keeping with FOX Weather.
“Lieutenant Dan” informed Fox News Digital he was ready to tackle Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene. (Fox News Digital)
During meditation, Malinowski informed Fox News Digital, he envisioned a hoop round him that he believed might need protected him from putting the channel’s wall. When he grew to become distracted from meditation, he stated he thrashed towards the dock once more, inflicting extra injury.
Ahead of Hurricane Helene, Malinowski stated he tied his anchor strains to the Bayshore Boulevard dock. He says he skilled a “peaceful night” and slept round 4½ hours earlier than waking up in his boat away from the dock and close to Harbour Island, which shares the channel with Bayshore.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“There was one time when it was bad. It was really windy,” Malinowski stated of Hurricane Milton. “I mean, the wind really picked up, and it was ripping through here, and I’m bouncing around.”
