Tampa's “Lieutenant Dan” Joseph Malinowski survives Hurricane Milton on a sailboat

The one-legged, sailboat-dwelling Florida man affectionately known as “Lieutenant Dan” is doing well after enduring the wrath of Hurricane Milton in Tampa Bay – despite the mayor's insistence that he seek shelter from the powerful storm searched.

The sailor who went viral for refusing to abandon his ship never left the boat he lives in as Milton swelled to a Category 5 hurricane before becoming a Category 3 storm with winds south of Tampa hit land at 120 miles per hour.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor claimed during a press conference Wednesday afternoon that Tampa police “just saved Lieutenant Dan.”

“He was rescued and is now also in an animal shelter. If we can get Lieutenant Dan to go to a shelter, we can get anyone to do that,” she told reporters.

But Lieutenant Dan, whose real name is Joseph Malinowski, was spotted moments later on his small sailboat docked in Tampa Bay.

“I know the mayor of Tampa just said in her press conference that Lieutenant Dan went to a shelter. He didn't do it, I'm standing right here,” NewsNation correspondent Brian Entin tweeted just before noon, alongside a photo of Malinowski poking his head out of the canvas covering the cabin of his sailboat.

Entin returned to check on Malinowski – nicknamed “Lieutenant Dan” in reference to Gary Sinise's amputated sailor character in “Forrest Gump” – after Milton landed on land and moored his sailboat to a dock in Tampa Bay, where water had been hauled out in the storm.

He called out to “Lt. Dan” a few times before the roof of the sailboat's cabin opened and the reporter asked if the stubborn sailor was OK, according to a video he posted just before midnight.

“I’m fine,” Malinowski said casually, sticking his head out.

Follow The Post for live updates as Hurricane Milton makes landfall

“I’m fine at the moment,” he said, looking around at the low water level. “I'm stuck here. I can’t go anywhere.”

As Milton moved through the Gulf Coast, Malinowski joined a livestream with TikTokers, including Tampa Terrence.

Malinowski said during the livestream that the wind was strong and caused him to “hit the wall a few times, but that was to be expected.”

“Dan’s still alive, guys. Dan is alive. He’s absolutely thrilled,” said the TikToker, who started a GoFundMe for the internet star. “The mayor of Tampa said he evacuated, he didn’t evacuate. He’s still on the boat.”

Earlier in the day, Malinowski shrugged off pleas that he evacuate to higher ground.

“The safest place to be during a flood is in a boat. We learned that from Noah. “Everyone who stayed on land drowned,” Malinowski told reporters.

“When the tide rises, I go up. As long as the water stays out of the boat, I’ll be fine.”