TikTok star Joe Malinowski, better known as Lieutenant Dan, has gone viral on social media for surviving Hurricane Milton – despite defying evacuation advice.
Speaking to Sky News, he said: “It was awesome. I’ve had more eventful nights.”
Mr Malinowski became a social media sensation overnight for his resistance to the evacuation orders in Florida. Instead, he chose to stay on his 20ft boat in Tampa Bay.
Hurricane Milton destroyed areas of Florida overnight with heavy winds and a huge storm surge. A series of tornadoes demolished homes and flattened communities across the state.
However, Lieutenant Dan “made it through unscathed”.
Describing his experience, he said: “It was pretty good, it wasn’t too bad.”
“We did alright, it was uneventful – actually this wasn’t as bad as [storm] Helene was.
“I kept banging into the sea wall here, but I probably got minor cosmetic damage. I was right here and I wasn’t going anywhere so I wasn’t concerned.”
He added: “I’m ready to go back to bed.”
Multiple deaths have now been confirmed as the storm made landfall.
The Category 3 Hurricane Milton dropped to Category 2 as it ripped through the centre of Florida.
Officials fear the death toll will only rise.
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