TikTok Star Lieutenant Dan Stayed on His Boat during Hurricane — His Last Wish before Milton Made Landfall
TikTok Star Lieutenant Dan Stayed on His Boat during Hurricane — His Last Wish before Milton Made Landfall
As Hurricane Milton threatened Florida’s Gulf Coast with record-breaking storm surges, TikTok star Lieutenant Dan made an unusual choice. Despite warnings and evacuation orders, he decided to stay on his sailboat, anchored in Tampa Bay, leaving many to wonder about his fate.
As Hurricane Milton loomed over Florida’s Gulf Coast, experts warned of the catastrophic impact it could have, especially in Tampa Bay. Residents in the most vulnerable areas faced mounting pressure to evacuate, with officials issuing grave warnings about the life-threatening storm surge.
Storm Warnings Ignored
As Hurricane Milton inched closer to Florida’s Gulf Coast, local authorities issued increasingly urgent evacuation orders, especially in areas most vulnerable to the
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor gave a stark warning, “If you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you are going to die.” The storm’s destructive potential, with water levels predicted to rise to nine feet, was unlike anything the region had seen in over a century.
While many heeded the warnings, Lieutenant Dan, whose real name is Joseph Malinowski, refused to leave his 20-foot sailboat anchored in Tampa Bay. The TikTok star, now known to his 551,000 followers for his unconventional lifestyle and bold choices, became the focus of growing concern.
As the storm drew closer, both his followers and local officials feared for his safety, but Malinowski was adamant—he wasn’t going anywhere. The Tampa police made multiple attempts to convince him to evacuate.
Throughout the final hours before Hurricane Milton made landfall, Tampa police officers tried multiple times to convince him to leave his boat. At one point, Malinowski, who according to his posts is 41, had reportedly agreed to evacuate.
“After several conversations, he informed our officers of plans to evacuate this morning,” said a police spokesperson in a statement. However, it soon became clear that Malinowski had changed his mind, choosing to ride out the storm on his boat instead.
