Joseph Malinowski, a Tampa resident known as “Lieutenant Dan,” has received a lot of media attention after surviving Hurricane Milton aboard his sailboat. Malinowski, who has a history of being at odds with the authorities, chose to ride out the storm on his 20-foot boat, defying evacuation orders and becoming a viral sensation.
The 54-year-old’s decision to stay on his boat was initially met with skepticism. In a viral TikTok video, he explained that his faith in God guided him to remain on the boat, believing it to be the safest place during the hurricane.
Despite offers of evacuation assistance from authorities, Malinowski was resolute in his decision, stating he had no fear and trusted in his divine protection.
“God told me to come out here and get a boat. I came out here and got a boat. He’s been telling me in the last two days I’m doing the right thing. He’s got my back. I’m in good shape. We’re gonna ride this one out,” he said.
People Magazine reported that, as Hurricane Milton approached, journalists captured footage of Malinowski on his boat. FOX 13 News anchor Kevin O’Donnell and NewsNation correspondent Brian Entin both documented his situation, showing him calm and composed despite the storm’s intensity.
Initially, the Tampa man kept reassuring the reporters that he was fine, although at one point he acknowledged to NewsNation’s Brian Entin that he was stuck on the boat. The severity of the storm eventually led to a change of heart.
On Wednesday afternoon, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor announced during a press conference that Joseph Malinowski had been rescued by the Tampa Police Department and relocated to a shelter. Castor used his rescue to emphasize the importance of heeding evacuation orders, speaking on the unprecedented danger posed by Hurricane Milton, which brought major storm surges and flooding to the Tampa area. There have also been reports of multiple deaths in St. Lucie County at the Spanish Lakes Country Club.
Meanwhile, WUFT reports that Joseph Malinowski has a history of run-ins with the law, including a recent six-month jail sentence for punching a police officer and an arrest for allegedly attempting to set a woman on fire. Additionally, he faces a court dispute over the ownership of his sailboat and has been charged under Florida law for abandoning a sunken boat.
Nevertheless, Joseph Malinowski’s battle with the storm seems to have appealed to many. A GoFundMe campaign started by Terrence Concannon, the creator of the viral TikTok video, has raised over $33,000 to support him.