Meet TikToker Lt. Dan: The Man Riding Out Hurricane Milton on His Boat

Meet TikToker Lt. Dan: The Man Riding Out Hurricane Milton on His Boat

As a lifestyle expert with a keen eye for resilience and a heart for human stories, I find myself captivated by the tale of Joseph Malinowski, also known as Lieutenant Dan. His decision to ride out Hurricane Milton on his boat is not just an act of defiance against authority, but a testament to his unique spirit and unwavering resolve.


Lieutenant Dan isn’t leaving his boat behind.

As Hurricane Milton wreaked havoc and left 100,000 Floridians seeking shelter, I, Joseph Malinowski, found myself drawn to the very heart of the storm rather than taking refuge.

54-year-old Joseph drew attention on TikTok and sparked worry among Tampa authorities by choosing to ride out the storm in his boat. As people anxiously watched to see if Joseph would survive the hurricane, he shared an update via a TikTok post on October 9th.

“I’m alive, woowoo,” he commented after the storm. “God is good.”

Who is the unconventional man that disregarded advice from authorities? The man is often referred to by the nickname of Lt. Dan, a character portrayed by Gary Sinise in the movie “Forrest Gump”, whose shrimp boat was the sole survivor during Hurricane Carmen, as depicted in the film.

The name was bestowed upon [him] by Terrence Concannon, a student at the University of Tampa, who encountered Joseph around mid-September. This encounter occurred after Terrence assisted Joseph in returning his boat to safety when it started drifting out to sea. As time went on, this senior individual chose to chronicle his life on the boat by documenting it.

Joseph shared with NBC News that following an accident where he was struck by a car at age 16, his leg was amputated. He embraced the nickname because he feels it reflects the persona he presents on TikTok. Subsequently, he cultivated an online fanbase as he navigated Hurricane Helene and Milton.

He caused such a stir online that Tampa Mayor Jane Castor shared yesterday that the Tampa Police Department attempted to bring him into a shelter, which he initially agreed to.

Meet TikToker Lt. Dan: The Man Riding Out Hurricane Milton on His Boat

The mayor’s representative informed People magazine that our safety officials have repeatedly discussed with this person the need for him to seek shelter due to the approaching hurricane. At a certain point on Wednesday, before the press conference, he consented to abandon his boat, but it seems he didn’t carry out his commitment to do so.

Despite the fierce storm, reporters on location kept in touch with Joseph, a man sheltering beneath a large tarp on his boat.

He assured News Nation prior to the hurricane hitting, “I’ve established a reliable safety spot.” In case the water rises, he will rise with it. As long as the boat remains dry, he’s confident he’ll be alright. Regardless of opinions or suggestions from others, he chooses to act according to his own judgement.

Meet TikToker Lt. Dan: The Man Riding Out Hurricane Milton on His Boat

Despite Joseph managing to escape Milton unscathed, the destruction wrought by the natural disaster has been devastating. Over 3 million Floridians are currently without electricity, as reported by PowerOutage.us. The storm’s fierce winds tore apart the stadium of Tampa Bay Rays, Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. City officials across the state have advised residents to stay indoors and avoid power lines and roads at all costs.

Yet, one of the most astonishing features of Hurricane Milton was the 19 confirmed tornadoes that swept through various counties prior to its landfall.

Governor Ron DeSantis stated on Squawk Box on October 10th, “This storm produced a large number of tornadoes.” He went on to say, “Such occurrences are expected, but we seem to have had more than usual. We expect there will be confirmed fatalities.

Read More

2024-10-10 17:17