As Hurricane Milton threatened Florida’s Gulf Coast with record-breaking storm surges, TikTok star “Lieutenant Dan” made an unusual choice. Despite warnings and evacuation orders, he decided to stay on his sailboat, anchored in Tampa Bay, leaving many to wonder about his fate.
Experts warned of the catastrophic impact Hurricane Milton could have, especially in Tampa Bay. Residents in the most vulnerable areas faced mounting pressure to evacuate, with officials issuing grave warnings about the life-threatening storm surge.
In the chaos, a local figure began drawing attention — not for fleeing the storm, but for his decision to stay put. His choice quickly became the center of conversation, raising questions about survival and safety as Milton closed in. As the storm drew nearer, the warnings only intensified
Storm Warnings Ignored
As Hurricane Milton inched closer to Florida’s Gulf Coast, local authorities increasingly issued urgent evacuation orders, especially in areas most vulnerable to the massive storm surge.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor gave a stark warning, “If you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you are going to die.” The storm’s destructive potential was unlike anything the region had seen in over a century, with water levels predicted to rise to nine feet.
Evacuees take shelter at Middleton High School as Hurricane Milton approached in Tampa, Florida on October 8, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
While many heeded the warnings, Lieutenant Dan, whose real name is Joseph Malinowski, refused to leave his 20-foot sailboat anchored in Tampa Bay. The TikTok star, now known to his over 551,000 followers for his unconventional lifestyle and bold choices, became the focus of growing concern.
Lieutenant Dan as seen in a clip dated October 8, 2024 | Source: tiktok.com/@terrenceconcannon
As the storm drew closer, his followers and local officials feared for his safety, but Malinowski was adamant — he wasn’t going anywhere. The Tampa police officers tried multiple times to convince him to leave his boat. At one point, Malinowski, who according to his posts is 41, had reportedly agreed to evacuate.
“After several conversations, he informed our officers of plans to evacuate this morning,” said a police spokesperson. However, it soon became clear that Malinowski had changed his mind, choosing to ride out the storm on his boat instead.
Driven by Faith, Anchored by Belief
Malinowski’s refusal to evacuate was not just an act of defiance. It was rooted in his faith and his deep connection to his boat. He explained his decision in a TikTok video shared just days before the storm hit.
“God told me to come out here and get a boat,” he shared in the video. “He’s been telling me in the last two days I’m doing the right thing. He’s got my back.”
Lieutenant Dan as seen in a clip dated October 8, 2024 | Source: tiktok.com/@terrenceconcannon
For Malinowski, the boat wasn’t just a means of escape but a symbol of divine protection. Despite the growing urgency from local authorities and concerns from his followers, Malinowski insisted he was in good hands.
When asked if he planned to wear a life jacket, his confidence was unshaken. “Hell no,” he said. “The safest place in the world to be is my boat.”
A Camera for His Final Moments?
In the hours leading up to Hurricane Milton’s landfall, Malinowski’s story continued to captivate his TikTok followers and local residents. One of his supporters, Terrence Concannon, who had been following the situation closely, made a bold gesture.
Terrence Concannon gives Lieutenant Dan a gift, dated October 9, 2024 | Source: tiktok.com/@terrenceconcannon
He gifted Malinowski a GoPro camera, a parting gift intended to help him document his experience aboard the boat during the storm. In a video captioned “Lieutenant Dan’s last wish,” Concannon can be heard handing the camera to him, saying, “Alright, Dan. Here’s your wish. GoPro.”
The gesture, seen by many as a final token of support, carried an eerie significance. Followers speculated that this might be Malinowski’s way of capturing what could potentially be his last moments.
Lieutenant Dan receives a camera, dated October 9, 2024 | Source: tiktok.com/@terrenceconcannon
While Concannon and others continued their efforts to convince Malinowski to abandon the boat, the gift of the camera seemed to solidify his commitment to stay. He was determined to document the storm from the deck of his sailboat, despite the growing fears that this decision could have deadly consequences.
The Hurricane Hits and Its Aftermath
When Hurricane Milton finally made landfall, the storm’s force was as devastating as predicted. Although Tampa had avoided the worst-case scenario of a 15-foot storm surge, torrential rains that exceeded forecasts hit the city.
A vehicle is stranded on a water-flooded street after Hurricane Milton made landfall in Brandon, Florida on October 9, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
In just a few hours, Tampa received as much rainfall as it typically would in five months. CNN correspondent Brian Todd described the scene as “walls of water” pouring down, turning streets into dangerous waterways.
People run in torrential rain in Havana due to the passage of Hurricane Milton on October 9, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
Though less severe than initially feared, the storm surge still posed a significant threat. Earlier in the night, the winds had pushed the water out of Tampa Bay, exposing what looked like a dry riverbed.
Chris Williams evacuates his apartment before Hurricane Milton’s arrival on October 9, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
But as the storm progressed, water began rushing back in, and residents were warned that the flooding could become more dangerous in the hours to come. Authorities cautioned that even though the worst of the storm had passed, downed power lines and deceptively deep floodwaters on the streets could still prove fatal.
Rain falls heavily in Fort Myers, Florida, on October 9, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
As for Malinowski, there was little information available about his safety during the height of the storm. His boat remained anchored in the bay as the wind and rain lashed the area. It wasn’t until after the hurricane that updates about his survival began to surface.
Surviving the Storm
After Hurricane Milton passed through Florida’s Gulf Coast, concerns about Malinowski’s safety peaked. For hours, followers and locals alike anxiously awaited news. Thankfully, updates soon emerged, confirming that Malinowski had survived the storm.
Concannon, who had been documenting the saga, shared that Malinowski had made it through the night on his sailboat. Despite the harrowing conditions and the overwhelming dangers of the storm, Malinowski’s faith in his boat and his decision to stay proved enough to carry him through.
Though he had refused to evacuate, defying authorities and pleas from followers, his experience during Hurricane Milton has now become a part of his story — a testament to his conviction.
As Florida began to assess the damage caused by the hurricane, Lieutenant Dan’s survival became a point of relief for many. His risky decision to stay on the boat, while controversial, ended with the outcome many had hoped for: he lived to tell the tale.
