While millions of eyes were on Florida as residents prepared for Hurricane Milton, a Tampa man and his small sailboat captured the hearts and attention of many on social media.

He goes by “Lieutenant Dan” on TikTok.

A viral saga about Dan’s life began after he vowed to stay on his sailboat, come rain, shine or hurricane – he didn’t move. Despite the many warnings from meteorologists, law enforcement, and even the mayor of Tampa, Dan refused to move and evacuate.

Terrence Concannon, a graduate of the University of Tampa, met Dan, whose real name is Joseph Malinowski, during Hurricane Helene and has been documenting his journey ever since, as many were interested in his “bravery and faith” or some would say “recklessness.” .

According to an interview with NBC News, Concannon met Dan in mid-September when he saw the man in a sailboat caught in the wind and being dragged out to sea.

Concannon told NBC News that he helped Dan by pulling a rope and pulling the 54-year-old Tampa man safely back to the dock. Since then, millions have been poured into his story on TikTok as Hurricane Milton barreled toward Tampa.

“Every single video I posted, I got thousands of comments asking, ‘Where’s Dan?’ Look for Dan,” Concannon said in an interview with NBC News.

Every day millions worried that Dan and his 20-foot sailboat would not survive Milton’s wrath and damaging winds. No one, not even Concannon, could convince Dan to abandon his sailboat and reach safety.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he told NBC. “I’m in a safe position right now… There’s no danger of sinking. There is no risk of me getting hurt. This is cosmetic damage. I can accept that.”

Concannon posted a video on his TikTok in which popular streamer Adin Ross Dan announced that he was gifting him $100,000 to purchase a new boat and equipment for streaming for anyone who wants to follow his journey can.

On Thursday morning, an account with more than 70,000 followers claiming to be Dan’s TikTok updated that he actually survived Hurricane Milton.