Viral Florida Man ‘Lieutenant Dan’ Emerges Safe and Alive After Riding Out Hurricane Milton On Boat

Joseph Malinowski , the one-legged sailor affectionately known as “Lieutenant Dan,” emerged safe and alive after riding out Hurricane Milton on his small sailboat in Tampa Bay , despite the city’s mayor insisting he evacuate to a shelter.

Malinowski, who went viral for his defiant and widely-criticized decision to stay aboard his vessel, weathered the storm even as Hurricane Milton intensified to a Category 5 before making landfall as a Category 3 with 120 mph winds.

NewsNation correspondent Brian Entin checked on the sailor when he could throughout the night.

This morning, however, Entin confirmed Malinowski was safe after Milton’s landfall.

Malinowski greeted the reporter: “I’m fine.”

He added: “Right now I’m doing fine. I’m stuck here. I can’t go anywhere.”

Ahead of the hurricane’s arrival Malinowski joined a TikTok livestream with fellow Floridian, Tampa Terrence, remarking: “The wind was strong and sent me banging into the wall a few times but that was to be expected.”

Watch above on NewsNation.