Officials Tried to Help Florida Man ‘Lt. Dan’ Before Hurricane Milton, but He Refused to Leave His Boat

Before Hurricane Milton made landfall in Tampa, Florida, officials there made an effort to help a man who went by the TikTok handle “Lieutenant Dan.” The man, whose true name is apparently Joseph Malinowski, defied their attempts to disembark from his 20-foot boat and chose instead to weather the storm.

Malinowski was filmed by Terrence Concannon, who uploaded the popular TikTok on October 8 and showed him justifying his choice. Malinowski, who was inspired by the Forrest Gump character, boldly declares his belief in God in the video, saying, “God told me to come out here and acquire a boat. I’m safe with him. We’re going to get through this. He brashly said, “Hell no,” when asked if he would be donning a life jacket, stating that his yacht was the safest place for him to be.

Around 43 million people had viewed the film as of October 9, garnering both local and national interest. Authorities in Tampa were worried about his safety, but Malinowski refused to leave despite multiple attempts to persuade him. The local police said that although they would have helped, they would eventually be unable to get to him due to the storm’s increasing conditions.

Mayor Jane Castor of Tampa first said that Malinowski had been rescued and taken to a shelter during a press conference. Brian Entin, a reporter for NewsNation, swiftly refuted this, posting a picture of Malinowski remaining on his boat as evidence that he had not departed. Later on, the mayor’s office stated that Malinowski had initially decided to depart but ended up staying.

Concannon, the person who first uploaded the popular video, launched a GoFundMe page in support of Malinowski, which raised almost $23,000. The money is meant to assist Malinowski—who has been called a “modern-day pirate”—in buying a new boat because his present one has “seen better days.”

With sustained winds of 120 mph, Hurricane Milton, a Category 3 storm, was predicted to make landfall on Florida’s west-central coast as of October 9. Malinowski made the decision to stay on his boat despite several orders for the locals to leave, putting his faith and the security of his craft at risk.

Keanu Reeves Chops Off His Long Hair After Years and Stuns Fans With His Transformation

At a recent event, Keanu Reeves and his girlfriend were spotted together, looking so in love. Their aura and style captivated the audience but people were particularly left surprised by Keanu’s new haircut and transformed look.

Keanu Reeves and Alexandra Grant, who have been close for a long time, once again attended the 2024 MOCA Gala in Los Angeles. They continued their support for the museum’s big fundraising evening, a tradition for them. The cameras captured their joyful interactions.

Reeves stood out in his navy blue suit with a green shirt and matching scarf, while Grant was radiant in a striking light green dress and a sparkling handbag. Notably, Keanu debuted a completely new appearance, adding to the night’s excitement.

The actor, previously recognized for his long locks, surprised everyone with a new, short hairstyle that transformed his look. Fans were thrilled with the change. One admirer remarked, “Keanu looks so handsome with his haircut”. “So lovely. Keanu looks hotter than ever!!” agreed another.

Were you aware that Keanu left school when he was just 17? Discover more intriguing details about him here.

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