One-Legged Man Nicknamed 'Lieutenant Dan' Goes Viral for Attempting to Ride Out Hurricane Milton in Sailboat: 'There's No Way He Survives'

A one-legged Tampa Bay man has built a fanatical following online for opting to stay in his sailboat because God told him to as the deadly Hurricane Milton approaches Florida.

Joseph Malinowski, a veteran nicknamed "Lieutenant Dan" by the internet in reference to Gary Sinise's character in Forrest Gump, initially went viral on TikTok for telling user @terrenceconcannon he's staying in his 20-foot sailboat in Tampa Harbor through the storm because of God's encouragement.

"God told me to come out here and get a boat, I came out here and got a boat," Malinowski said. "Everything that he's been telling me over the last two days is I'm doing the right thing, he's got my back. I'm in good shape. I'm not sweating it."

When asked if he's going to wear a life jacket, Malinowski said, "Hell no!," and if he has to swim, he said he can swim in a circle with his leg.

"Even if the boat goes 100 feet in the air, I'm going to be 100 feet in the air in the water," Malinowski added.

After going viral, Malinowski told X user @BrianEntin, a journalist at News Nation, that "as long as water stays out of the boat, I'll be fine."

"The safest place to be is on a boat during a flood; we learned that with Noah," Malinowski shared. "Everyone that stayed on land drowned."

He also reassured viewers and skeptics alike that he's not "concerned," "suicidal," or "nutty."

"I'm putting it in God's hands and taking it out of mine and man," Malinowski added.

Malinowski also said he appreciates the concern and loves all of his newfound friends.

X users had mixed reactions to Lt. Dan's plan to ride out what's predicted to be one of the deadliest Atlantic storms in history. One user said, "I shake my head at anyone who tries to outsmart a storm but I am absolutely rooting for Lieutenant Dan."

Another said they were "intrigued" by the Florida man's mission and thinks he will survive, unlike his boat.

Another told X users Lt. Dan is "an impoverished, homeless veteran," and "all he has" is his sailboat. She added that she hopes he lives through the storm.

X user @5Dalek was adamant that Lt. Dan will not survive.

While @Hillbilly Pixie was certain he will survive.

One X user was shocked to learn Andrew Tate, who offered Malinowski $100K if he survives, was also a fan.

Hurricane Milton was downgraded to a Category 4 storm on Tuesday but is still expected to cause devastating damage to the Tampa region of Florida.