One-legged Tampa man refuses to leave sailboat during Hurricane Milton despite warnings in viral video

TAMPA, FLORIDA: A one-legged man from Tampa has gone viral over social media for insisting on staying in his boat through Hurricane Milton, Daily Beast reported on Tuesday, October 8.

Netizens have nicknamed the person, who goes by the name Jay on TikTok, Lieutenant Dan, the character from the Tom Hanks film 'Forrest Gump,' who lost his legs in the Vietnam War and spent the rest of his days on a fishing boat.

According to CBS News, Milton is a Category 5 storm that is set to make landfall in the region on Wednesday night or early Thursday. With the state still reeling from the impact of Hurricane Helene, the approaching storm is a massive cause for concern.

Jay's viral interview

The Weather Channel interviewed Jay on his boat, and the clip later blew up over social media after it was initially uploaded on TikTok.

“I know that God didn’t bring me this far for something to happen to me,” Jay is seen saying in the video. He reportedly rode out Hurricane Helene in his boat and does not believe rising water levels to be of much concern. It is the strong winds that could blow him away into the sea that worries him more.

“The more you go through it, the more you learn,” he shared. “I’m confident in my ability to ride it out unless it turns into a Wizard of Oz-type situation, and I wind up in Kansas.”

Law enforcement officials have asked Jay to leave the area, but he has decided to stay put as his boat's motor has become dysfunctional and the wind is blowing high.

"I’ll be here. I’ll see you Friday," he told the interviewer cheerfully.

Internet reacts as Jay is convinced to go to shelter

Later on Tuesday, an account named Proud Army Brat tweeted that Jay was convinced by the Tampa Police Chief to visit a shelter to sit through the storm.

"If you were following the story of disabled veteran ‘Lieutenant Dan’ riding out Cat 5 Hurricane Milton on his 20 foot boat (took him 5 years to get, & it’s all he owns) in the Tampa Harbor, he will now be SAFE. The Tampa Police Chief visited him, and convinced him to go to a shelter. I’m so relieved!" read the post.

Netizens shared their relief in reaction to the news, as the following tweets demonstrate.

"So glad they convinced him to go. Wish there were a way to take his boat with him since it’s all he has in the world," wrote a user.

"I’m sure it was hard for him to go but I’m glad he did! What a cool guy he is, I hope he has a good long life!" shared another.

"This is great news!" expressed a third.

"I was rooting for him. But it's the right thing to do!" stated a fourth.

"Good to hear this! Made me a little nauseous (and sad) thinking of him actually following through with his plan," noted yet another.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.