Lieutenant Dan’s Daughter Says He’ll ‘Probably End up Dead’ for One Reason after Her Father Refused to Evacuate

When Hurricane Milton struck Florida, a local man known as Lieutenant Dan refused to leave. Anchored on his sailboat in Tampa Harbor, his bold decision attracted hundreds of thousands of people’s attention.

However, while Lieutenant Dan’s resolve captivated many, his daughter voiced deep concerns. In an emotional TikTok video, she warned that the fame her father gained could lead to his downfall.

Hurricane Milton and Lieutenant Dan’s Defiance

Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida with devastating force, causing widespread panic and leading to mass evacuations. Millions of residents fled ahead of the Category 3 hurricane, which was predicted to bring catastrophic storm surges of up to 9 feet along Florida’s Gulf Coast.

The storm had the potential to break records, with some experts comparing it to the infamous hurricanes of 1921 and 1848 that devastated the Tampa Bay area. Just weeks prior, Hurricane Helene had caused significant damage, which left the state in a vulnerable position.

Tampa mayor Kaitlaan Collins had issued a grave warning to the public before Hurricane Milton hit, urging them to evacuate or face dire consequences.

“Helene was a wake-up call. This is literally catastrophic. And I can say with any dramatization whatsoever — if you choose to stay in one of the evacuation areas, you’re gonna die,” she stated.

However, as people left, one man chose to stay behind — a local known as Lieutenant Dan. His refusal to leave his modest 20-foot sailboat, anchored in Tampa Harbor, caught the attention of social media.

Despite the growing storm and the dire warnings from authorities, Lieutenant Dan remained resolute in his decision to ride out the hurricane. He became an internet sensation, sharing a tour of his small boat on social media, which was stocked with supplies like oatmeal, coffee, Cheez-Its, and water.

Though his boat was not in the best shape, he was confident it would withstand the storm. People who knew the story of Lieutenant Dan couldn’t help but draw comparisons to a famous parable. In the parable, a man refuses several rescue efforts during a flood, expecting divine intervention.

After the man drowns, he asks God why he wasn’t saved, only to learn that God had sent help in various forms that he chose to ignore. When asked about the parable, Lieutenant Dan wasn’t swayed by the analogy.

“God sent me here. He told me to come here. He told me to be right here for this. So I know He didn’t send nobody to get me out of here,” Lieutenant Dan confidently stated in one of his TikTok videos. His decision to stay didn’t go unnoticed by the authorities.

Tampa’s police chief attempted to convince Lieutenant Dan to evacuate. A spokesperson for Mayor Collins confirmed the city’s efforts, stating, “Our public safety team has had multiple conversations with this individual to persuade him to go to a shelter for safety as the hurricane approaches.”

“At one point [on Wednesday], just prior to the press conference, he’d agreed to leave his boat; however, it appears that he has not followed through,” they continued.

Despite the pressures from officials, Lieutenant Dan — who confirmed in a TikTok video that he was 41 at the time of writing — continued to update his more than 600,000 TikTok followers, explaining why he felt he was doing the right thing.

“God told me to come out here and get a boat. I came out here and got a boat, and everything that He’s been telling me over the last two days is I’m doing the right thing,” he said in one video.

“He’s got my back. I’m in good shape. I ain’t sweatin’ it. We’re gonna ride this one out. We got set up the way… we know what we’re doing, and as long as the water keeps rising, we’ll be fine,” Lieutenant Dan added.

When Hurricane Milton finally made landfall, it was downgraded from a Category 3 to a Category 2 storm, but it still wreaked havoc across Florida.

Despite the chaos and danger, Lieutenant Dan survived the storm and emerged relatively unscathed. His story continued to gain traction on social media, and soon he found himself on a live stream with the popular internet personality Adin Ross.

Ross, moved by Lieutenant Dan’s determination and ordeal, promised to buy him a new boat. Lieutenant Dan’s newfound popularity also led to financial support, with people donating money to him via GoFundMe.

A Daughter’s Concerns About Her Father’s Viral Fame

In the aftermath of Hurricane Milton and her father’s sudden rise to internet stardom, a woman who claimed to be Lieutenant Dan’s daughter, Ashley Ann Malinowski, expressed serious concerns.

Taking to TikTok herself, she worried that the overwhelming attention and donations would ultimately put her father’s life at risk. “Lieutenant Dan was doing just fine without all that money,” she said in one of her TikTok videos, visibly upset by the situation.

She stated bluntly, “Y’all TikTok […] famous people and all that. Y’all blowing him up and he’s gonna be dead before he can even […] enjoy that boat and stuff. Because look at him, after y’all got a hold of him and now he’s high […] on all these videos.”

Her concerns didn’t stop there. She went on to share that his newfound fame would “put him in the grave early.” “I’m his daughter, and I’ve had to keep tabs on that man for ten years, trying to make sure that he is alive. And now he’s gonna get all of this and probably end up dead because of it,” she added.

Malinowski grew increasingly emotional during her post, admitting that she tried not to pay any mind to the attention her father was receiving. However, she couldn’t help but worry about his well-being.

She added that she had spent a decade keeping tabs on her father and ensuring he was alive. “Nobody actually cares,” she said with frustration. She added that social media users were just using her father and did not know the real him.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, Lieutenant Dan’s defiance captured the attention of many, but his daughter’s fears paint a sobering picture of the real danger he possibly faces.