Who is TikTok sensation Lt. Dan? The tattooed sailor is safe: 'Wasn't too bad'
If you've been scrolling down #TampaTok during Hurricane Milton, you've probably come across Joe Malinowski, better known on social media as "Lt. Dan."
Malinowski, 54, was adamant about riding out Milton on his 22-foot sailboat. Many Floridians evacuated the state in droves to escape the looming storm, while others, like Malinowski, took their chances.
He said he had no problems during the storm, raising his arm in triumph as the sun rose over Tampa Bay.
The tattooed sailor had been live-streaming his adventures aboard the Seashell for several days, catching media attention for his plan to stay moored in the harbor as Milton passed.“The hand of god was over Tampa,” Malinowski declared Thursday morning. “It wasn’t too bad.”
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Fans gathered to check on Malinowski after the storm: 'You made it'
Thursday morning, a growing stream of Tampa residents made their way to Bayshore Boulevard to check on Malinowski, whose “Lt. Dan” nickname refers to a similarly disabled Forrest Gump movie character. He is missing his lower left leg.“You made it! I’m so glad you’re safe,” Tampa resident Monet Rahall, 28, called down to Malinowski.Rahall said she had to come check on Malinowski for herself, after watching his videos while she rode out the storm at her nearby home.“He’s an icon,” she said. “I saw him on the Internet and wanted to see him for myself.”
Prior to the storm
Malinowski's story went viral through a series of videos posted by TikTok creator Tampa Terrence. Before the storm, he explained his decision to stay on his vessel.
"I put my faith in God. I don't put my faith in man," he explained. "God told me to come out here and get a boat. I came out here and got a boat. Everything he's been telling me the last few days, I'm doing the right thing. He got my back. I'm in good shape. I ain't sweating it."
Tampa radio station WUFT reported that Malinowski's background includes several criminal allegations and charges, among them assaulting a police officer and aggravated battery of a woman.
The comment section was flooded with people who considered his decision a bad idea: "It's a life or death situation," one user commented.
Weather experts and local officials stressed the importance of residents seeking safety from the potentially deadly storm.
"I can say without any dramatization whatsoever: If you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you're going to die," Tampa Mayor Jane Castor told CNN.
Officials say Malinowski was rescued but was back on his boat hours later, report says
An updated TikTok video showed local police trying to convince Malinowski to leave.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Mayor Castor said that officers rescued him and transported him to a shelter, according to WFLA.
However, news reporters located him at his boat hours later.
"Dan is not leaving the boat for the hurricane. He is staying on that boat. There's been many attempts to get him off this boat. People have offered houses, hotel rooms, apartments, he will not leave," Tampa Terrence explained in a video.
Malinowski is garnering millions of views online
Malinowski is standing at more than 550,000 followers on TikTok as of the time of publication. His latest video has nearly 6 million views.
Tampa Terrence created a GoFundMe on his behalf titled "Support Lieutenant Dan's Seafaring Dreams." It has currently raised more than $37,000.
"His current vessel has seen better days, and we want to surprise him with a new boat to continue his seafaring adventures," the fundraiser said. "Let's come together and show our support for this modern-day pirate by helping him get a new ship to sail the seas!"
Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at [email protected].