Despite Tampa Mayor Jane Castor’s grave evacuation warning to residents forward of Hurricane Milton, one man determined to not depart his sailboat. Authorities stated they provided to assist him evacuate, however he was decided to remain put.
The man, nicknamed Lieutenant Dan after the character performed by actor Gary Sinise in Forrest Gump, went viral on TikTok for refusing to go away the sailboat. In reality, individuals even startedreplacing wagers on whether or not he would stay or die. Fortunately, Lieutenant Dan has now survived the hurricane, in line with social media posts.
‘God advised me to come back out right here and get a ship’
In a video shared on TikTok by person Terrence Concannon on Tuesday, October 8, Lieutenant Dan, whose actual title is reportedly Joseph Malinowski, advised an interviewer why he selected to remain in his 20-foot boat regardless of the hazard.
“My religion in God,” Malinowski stated. “God advised me to come back out right here and get a ship. I got here out right here and received a ship. He’s been telling me within the final two days I’m doing the appropriate factor. He’s received my again. I’m in fine condition. We’re gonna journey this one out.”
On being requested if he could be sporting a life jacket, Malinowski stated, “Hell no.”
“The most secure place on the planet to be is my boat,” he additional stated.
Local officers beforehand stated they had been involved about Malinowski’s security. “After a number of conversations, [Malinowski] knowledgeable our officers of plans to evacuate this morning, and we provided our help,” a spokesperson for Tampa police advised People.
“Our precedence is making each effort to maintain our neighborhood secure on this storm. However,” the police spokeperson continued, “there can be some extent the place the circumstances will deteriorate to the purpose the place our officers can not safely get to people which is why we’re making further efforts now,” the assertion added.
However, Malinowski refused to go away. Mayor Castor’s spokesperson later stated, “Our public security workforce has had a number of conversations with this particular person to steer him to make the choice to go to a shelter for security because the hurricane approaches. At one level [on Wednesday], simply previous to the press convention, he’d agreed to go away his boat, nevertheless, it seems that he has not adopted by way of.”
Concannon even launched a GoFundMe for Malinowski. The web page reads, “We’re rallying collectively to assist our pricey good friend lieutenant Dan who lives on a sailboat and embodies the spirit of a real pirate. He’s the kindest soul, by no means asking for something however at all times able to help. His present vessel has seen higher days, and we wish to shock him with a brand new boat to proceed his seafaring adventures. Let’s come collectively and present our help for this modern-day pirate by serving to him get a brand new ship to sail the seas!”
Adin Ross provides Lieutenant Dan a $10000 boat, a Kick deal
Meanwhile, Adin Ross provided Malinowski a $10000 boat and a Kick deal. During an October 10 livestream, Ross collaborated with Malinowski through video name. Ross stated at one level, “We had been capable of come up… I’m going to have the ability to pay for a ship for you. We’re going to get you a pleasant boat within the vary of $50,000 to $100,000, and we will get you a full-time Kick deal, which is a livestreaming deal the place you may stream your complete voyages and all of your adventures.”
“And you may have a passive revenue are available in. Yeah, you are going to have a Kick deal – a livestreaming deal – as a way to livestream and join with followers everywhere in the world and so they can actually see your journey, man,” he added.