Joseph Malinowski, 54, nicknamed “Lieutenant Dan” on social media, survived Hurricane Milton on his 20-foot sailboat.
Malinowski, who attracted the attention of many for his decision to weather hurricanes Helena and Milton on his boat, decided to stay on his vessel despite multiple attempts by the services to evacuate him and take him to safety. Followers offered Malinowski shelter – in nearby hotels and in their own homes – but he refused.
Malinowski rose to social media fame after tiktoker Terrence Concannon posted a series of videos about his experience with Hurricane Helene, which he also spent on his boat.
As Hurricane Milton approached Tampa, Malinowski took to his social media profile to reassure worried audiences, even as his ship rocked under the increasing wind and rain. Around 8 a.m. Thursday, Malinowski gave NBC News a simple answer when asked if he was doing well after the storm.
“Yes,” he said in a text message.
In the days before the hurricane, Malinowski refused offers to helpć from a number of people, and he was even visited by Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw, who asked him to evacuate. Malinowski said he lost a leg at age 16 in a scooter accident, survived cancer, survived opioid addiction and survived Hurricane Helene on his boat less than two weeks ago. He was convinced that he would survive Hurricane Milton, and in the end it really was.
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