‘Potentially Fatal Decision’: CNN Interviews Florida Man Determined to Ride Out Hurricane Milton in His Boat

On Wednesday as Hurricane Milton bore down on Florida CNN interviewed a local legend in Tampa who’s decided to ride out Hurricane Milton from the safety — or lack thereof — of his boat.

Joseph Malinowski, who’s also known on the internet as “Lieutenant Dan” in reference to the Forrest Gump character, has vowed not to evacuate as the potentially catastrophic storm approaches. Despite the urging of multiple local officials, Malinowski is staying put.

CNN’s Isabel Rosales was reporting live right next to Malinowski’s boat. After giving viewers a brief summary of him and his plan, she was surprised to his head pop back out of the boat.

ROSALES: Oh my God, you’re still there! Hi.

MALINOWSKI: How are you doing?

ROSALES: Are you doing OK?

MALINOWSKI: I’m doing fine. How are you?

ROSALES: Doing great!

MALINOWSKI: Are you?

ROSALES: Yeah. You’re still riding this out, huh?

MALINOWSKI: Yeah, I’m drier than you are!

ROSALES: Yeah, you are. You are drier than I am at this moment! So, you haven’t changed your mind, right? You’re still staying?

MALINOWSKI: I’m staying. I’m staying right here.

ROSALES: Alright, please be safe, sir. Please be safe.

CNN reporter Boris Sanchez, reporting from another location in the city, believed it could be a costly decision.

“A very, very interesting decision,” Sanchez said. “A potentially fatal decision by Lieutenant Dan to stay where he is with the storm surge that we’re expecting, with the rainfall that we’re expecting. Right now, we just got maximum rainfall. It started at about 2 p.m. and it is going to go through the evening.”

Watch above via CNN.