Joseph Malinowski, also known as ‘Lieutenant Dan’ on TikTok, captivated the internet with his bold decision to survive Hurricane Milton on his 20-foot boat.
The 16-year-old Florida sailor, who lost his leg in a car accident, went viral after documenting his experience during the Category 5 storm.
Malinowski, who has over 242,000 TikTok followers, recorded videos from his boat, maintaining confidence despite the possibility of disaster.
He famously linked his situation to Noah’s Ark, assuring viewers that “the safest place to be is on a boat in a flood. We learned that with Noah. Everyone that stayed on land drowned. Noah and the animals lived.”
Malinowski stayed calm despite Hurricane Milton’s 120 mph winds. “This is nothing compared to what I’ve been through. This doesn’t scare me,” he told his followers, dismissing the danger as a minor inconvenience.
His popular posts depicted him enduring the storm while others sought shelter.
The sailor’s nickname, ‘Lieutenant Dan,’ was inspired by the character from ‘Forrest Gump’, a war veteran who loses both legs and survives a storm on a fishing boat.
Malinowski’s decision to stay on his boat during Hurricane Milton earned respect, curiosity, and even financial support from supporters who tracked his progress intently.
A GoFundMe effort generated $44,000 to rebuild Malinowski’s yacht, which was damaged during the hurricane.
Furthermore, popular streamer Adin Ross promised to purchase him a new boat, solidifying his status as an internet folk hero. However, this sudden fame drew attention.
Malinowski’s reckless disobedience for evacuation orders was not the only item that drew attention. He has a troublesome history, with over 70 interactions with law enforcement in Florida and North Carolina since 2012.
His record includes a variety of offenses, including assault, battery, and even setting a park seat on fire.
While the storm decreased, Malinowski’s troubles were only beginning. After the hurricane, Tampa police asked him to remove his boat from Bayshore Linear Park due to health risks.
Authorities said that his sailboat lacked sufficient waste disposal records and a maritime sanitation device, which posed a public health danger.
Despite several warnings, Malinowski refused to cooperate. On Friday, October 18, officers arrived and saw his boat still in place.
The disobedience resulted in his detention, but what stuck out on the arrest notice was the occupation listed: “TikTok Star.”
This wasn’t Malinowski’s first run-in with the law, but his online persona added a new level of intrigue.
His internet celebrity, which stemmed from his defiance during Hurricane Milton, has now led him from TikTok glory to a jail cell, leaving his followers both startled and curious about what will happen next.
Featured Image Credit: (TikTok/@terrenceconcannon)
