After disobeying instructions to abandon his boat, a man from Florida known as “Lieutenant Dan” has somehow escaped the worst Hurricane Milton might have to offer. In Tampa Bay, Joseph Malinowski—who lost his leg in a car accident when he was sixteen—drove against police advice to evacuate, choosing instead to risk the night at sea even though they told him there were “nine shelters that are open,” reports The Mirror.
He was given the moniker “Forrest Gump” after having his leg amputated below the knee, in which Lieutenant Dan loses both of his legs below the knee during the Vietnam War.
Joseph attempted to reassure people that his boat was “secure” in the 120mph winds and that it had not been seriously damaged during the storm.
“I’m not taking on any water, I haven’t even spilled my coffee yet,’ he told his more than 242k followers “‘I’m good, I’ve got everything I need, I’ve got plenty of water, I’ve got plenty of food, reports The Mirror.
Joseph had posted an earlier TikTok detailing his circumstances aboard the boat, and around 11 p.m. yesterday, he was spotted sticking his head out of the boat to reassure reporters that he “was fine”. “They’re saying the storm is still about an hour and a half out, and if that’s the case and I’m feeling double of what it is now, that’s not a problem, not a problem now,” he told his fans on social media, reports The Mirror.
I might spend two weeks here. I have all I need, including coffee and creamer, according to the Mirror.
“Despite attempting to alleviate any concerns, the hurricane’s life-threatening winds could be heard whirling around in the background during the seven-minute video. He expressed gratitude for the concern shown by his fans, some of whom offered to pay for a hotel or take him to a shelter, but he declined these offers. “I didn’t plan this, I didn’t expect this, but this was God’s plan for me to bring the world together,’ he said. “I’m doing my thing and whatever happens happens,” reports The Mirror.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.
