Florida Man ‘Lt. Dan’ Protected After Using Out Hurricane Milton in Boat

A Tampa man nicknamed “Lieutenant Dan” is secure after driving out Hurricane Milton in his sailboat.

In movies shared by journalists on X (previously often known as Twitter) late on Wednesday, Oct. 9, the person — who has been named after the character performed by actor Gary Sinise within the 1994 hit film Forrest Gump — may very well be seen in his 20-foot boat on the water after the hurricane made landfall as a Class 3 storm. 

Kevin O’Donnell, an anchor for native media outlet FOX 13 Information, posted a clip with the caption, “Lieutenant Dan” UPDATE: He survived to speak about his wild evening driving out Hurricane Milton on his 20 ft sailboat. #LieutenantDan #HurricaneMilton.” 

Within the video, O’Donnell zooms in on the boat as the person — whose actual identify is reportedly Joseph Malinowski — asks, “Hello, the way you doing? It’s Lieutenant Dan.”

“How are you doing?” O’Donnell responds. “How’s the trip?”

“The water’s gone?” Malinowski replies.

“Yeah it’s going out … It’s being pulled out,” O’Donnell provides, earlier than asking him how he’s doing.  

“I’m doing fantastic,” Malinowski responds.

“Was it as dangerous as you thought?” O’Donnell asks, to which he replies, “No. Is the water coming again in or is it nonetheless going out?”

“It’s going out,” says O’Donnell. “You hold in there.” 

“Alright, I admire that. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Malinowski responds. 

One other video shared by NewsNation correspondent Brian Entin exhibits him approaching the sailboat and asking, “Lieutenant Dan, are you okay?” 

“I’m fantastic,” he responds as he seems from a hatch. 

“I believe you made it by way of the worst of it,” Entin provides. 

“I’m doing fantastic, I’m caught right here,” Malinowski replies. 

“Lieutenant Dan” went viral earlier this week after he stated in a TikTok video by Terrence Concannon that he wouldn’t evacuate forward of the hurricane and would as a substitute trip out the storm in his boat. 

Explaining why he wished to remain put within the video, Malinowski stated, “My religion in God. God instructed me to come back out right here and get a ship. I got here out right here and acquired a ship. He’s been telling me within the final two days I’m doing the suitable factor. He’s acquired my again. I’m in fine condition. We’re gonna trip this one out.”

The interviewer then requested Malinowski if he can be sporting a life jacket to brace for Milton, to which he responded, “Hell no,” later including, “The most secure place on the earth to be is my boat.”

Authorities stated they’d provided evacuation assist to Malinowski, however he declined to maneuver. 

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Since posting the TikTok, Concannon has began a GoFundMe for Malinowski, which has to date raised over $33,000. 

Milton made landfall close to Siesta Key, Florida at 8:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 9, after passing by way of the Gulf of Mexico, the Nationwide Hurricane Middle reported.