In a bold and unexpected move, Florida native Joseph Malinowski, known as “Lieutenant Dan,” decided to defy Tampa Bay evacuation orders as devastating Hurricane Milton approached.
Despite warnings from the authorities that the hurricane could cause catastrophic losses, Joe, who lives on a boat, chose to stay at sea and face the storm.
Challenge despite risks
Joe, who lost his leg in a car accident when he was 16, ignored severe warnings from the authorities, which amounted to a “flight or die” situation.
“I’m not worried about my life,” Joe said, speaking from his 20-foot boat in Tampa Harbor. “What’s happening now doesn’t scare me because I’ve been through worse things than that.”
@dailymail A one-legged Florida man nicknamed Lieutenant Dan REFUSES to evacuate Tampa Bay as Hurricane Milton approaches. Despite police urging him to leave, he believes his boat is ‘the safest place to be,’ and says he will simply swim ‘in circles’ with no lifejacket if he needs to. #hurricanemilton #hurricane #milton #florida #news ♬ Clumsy Shock – DJ BAI
The power of faith and trust in the boat
Joe stressed that he has complete confidence in the strength of his anchor that connects him to the pier, explaining that he feels safe on board his boat.
“The boat rises with the water, which is actually the safest place in such conditions,” he said.
Confronting the police and warnings from the authorities
Although the police tried to persuade Joe to leave before the hurricane arrived, he insisted on staying, stressing that he would not wear a life jacket, and depend entirely on God to protect him.
The authorities warned residents against staying on ships or venturing into the sea during the storm, stressing that this would endanger their lives and the lives of rescue teams.
Support followers and reject offers
“Lieutenant Dan” has gained wide popularity on the TikTok platform, where more than 100,000 users follow him and watch his sea adventures.
Some fans offered to provide him with safe shelter or pay for hotel accommodation, but he rejected all offers, preferring to stay on his boat, for which he collected donations worth $18,000 to buy a new boat.
