A one-legged Florida man who became famous for deciding to sail Hurricane Milton from his sailboat has opened up about his wild night at sea.
Joseph Malinowski, better known online as Lt. Dan, has refused to follow evacuation orders in Tampa Bay even though the chief of police told him there are “nine shelters open.”
And although Tampa Bay Mayor Jane Castor claimed at her final news conference before the storm that officers pushed him to seek shelter, Malinowski stuck to his guns.
He was seen poking his head out of the boat around 11 p.m. as he insisted to NewsNation reporter Brian Entin that he was okay, and earlier in the evening posted his own TikTok detailing how he and his boat were doing held on when the storm started. hit.
“They say the storm is still out in an hour and a half, and if that’s the case and I’m feeling double what it is now, then that’s no big deal, no big deal right now,” the TikTok personality says. told his followers.
Joseph Malinowski, better known online as Lieutenant Dan, provided an update on his situation as he hunkered down in his boat during Hurricane Milton
He said his boat was “safe, so I can only go so far” in 125 mph winds, and said his boat had not yet suffered any structural damage.
“I don’t drink water, I haven’t even spilled my coffee yet,” Malinowski told his more than 242,900 followers.
‘I’m doing well, I have everything I need, I have enough water, I have enough food. I could stay here for two weeks.’
“I have everything I need: coffee, creamer, everything.”
The risk taker then thanked everyone who offered their support, as fans sponsored him for a motel room or shelter in other states.
“I didn’t plan this, I didn’t expect this, but this was God’s plan for me to bring the world together,” he said.
“I do my thing and whatever happens, happens.”
He was seen poking his head out of the boat around 11 p.m. as he insisted to NewsNation reporter Brian Entin that he was okay.
But at one point during the seven-and-a-half-minute video, banging could be heard in the background amid the life-threatening winds.
“It’s just startling,” Malinowski said of the gusts, later describing it as “a blow from behind at 5 miles per hour.”
He added that he had spoken to God, who told him, “I’ve got you, I’ve got you.”
“So I know everything will be fine,” the sailor said, noting, “If you stay here, it will be stronger than your fears.”
Later that evening, Malinowski was seen telling Entin, “I’m fine,” as the water at Bayshore Boulevard began to recede and his boat sank.
“We’re out of water,” he said told Fox 13 reporter Kevin O’Donnellbefore asking if the water from the bay would return.
Malinowski became famous because he decided to weather the hurricane in his sailboat
In a follow-up video posted around midnight, Malinowski was seen talking to an internet streamer about what he experienced.
He said his boat was stuck between the dock and some water and said, “I wouldn’t even try to get out of the boat right now.”
But when the streamer then asked him if he should get out of the boat and find shelter, Malinowski said, “Listen, I’m not really worried right now.
“It’s bad, but I would really like to know what part of the storm we are in so I know what to expect.”
At that point, a streamer told him the storm had downgraded, and Malinowski said, “If it’s a Cat 3, I’m not worried, I’m not worried.”
He captioned the video telling his followers that he is safe.
“I guess I should be good,” he wrote. “Thanks guys for the prayers and support.”
Malinowski had lost a leg in a car accident at the age of 16
Malinowski had lost a leg in a car accident at the age of 16. He said he had just taken his eyes off the road for a moment when he came across another car going about 45 miles per hour.
His leg was amputated below the knee, earning him the nickname he still has to this day. In Forrest Gump, Lieutenant Dan lost both of his legs during the Vietnam War.
‘Tampa Terrence’ has documented Joe’s stand against Hurricane Milton and a GoFundMe supports him in the purchase of a new ship ‘to sail the seas’.
The fundraiser had raised more than $33,000 by early Thursday morning.
Malinowski insisted he wasn’t worried as the storm raged outside
A Flash Flood Emergency remained in effect in the Tampa area due to the high water Milton brought when it made landfall as a Category 3 storm
Meanwhile, a Flash Flood Emergency remained in effect in the Tampa area due to the high water Milton brought when it made landfall as a Category 3 storm.
It was later downgraded to Category 1, but the fierce winds were still able to tear the fabric roof of the Tampa Bay Rays baseball player’s home to shreds.
Milton also spawned at least 19 tornadoes, causing damage in numerous counties, and destroying approximately 125 homes, most of them mobile homes.
And as of early Thursday morning, more than 2 million people were without power.
The Hurricane Center labeled it an “extremely dangerous” storm that could bring deadly storm surge, high winds and flash flooding to Central Florida.