Lieutenant Dan, real name Joseph Malinowski, has gone viral online for staying put in his boat in Tampa Bay during Hurricane Milton.
In the TikTok video, he explains that he had a higher chance of survival because the boat "will go up with the water.” State officials stepped in, coaxing him to leave his boat eventually. Since then, a GoFundMe has been set up to arrange funds for a new boat for him.
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At the time of writing, over 1.8k donations have been made, bringing the total down to $33,318 out of the $100,000 target. According to the description, should any funds remain after purchasing the boat, all of it will go towards "Dan's every day living expenses and his general livelihood."
Lieutenant Dan has always wanted a gym membership, his GoFundMe reveals
The description for the GoFundMe page, set up by Terrence Concannon and his friend, Will Shadrick, reads:
"Ahoy, mateys! We're rallying together to help our dear friend lieutenant Dan who lives on a sailboat and embodies the spirit of a true pirate. He's the kindest soul, never asking for anything but always ready to lend a hand. His current vessel has seen better days, and we want to surprise him with a new boat to continue his seafaring adventures. Let's come together and show our support for this modern-day pirate by helping him get a new ship to sail the seas!"
On October 10, however, Concannon, the person behind the TikTok video that propelled Dan to fame, took to the page to dish an update. He revealed that there has been an "outpouring of donations and kind words" sent to Lt. Dan, who has since been relocated to a safe shelter, and reassured everyone that all the funds are being rerouted directly to the one-legged man.
He continued, noting that all leftover funds will be allocated for his living expenses, and perhaps even a "gym membership (something he's wanted for a long time)." The statement continues:
"With Hurricane Milton fast approaching the FL west coast, managing this fundraiser has taken a back seat while we all prepare and prioritize our survival. You may have seen Lieutenant Dan's TikTok today, where he confirms this is the only place he's accepting donations. He also talks about potentially needing more support in the future, so we'll keep everyone updated as we learn more."
Concannon concluded the statement by promising to send updates as and when they can.
On October 9, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said in a press conference:
"The Tampa Police Department, this morning, just saved Lieutenant Dan. He has been rescued, and he is now in a shelter as well. If we can get Lieutenant Dan to go to a shelter, we can get anybody to do that."
Lieutenant Dan's name is a nod to Gary Sinise’s seafaring character in the 1994 movie, Forest Gump.
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