Lieutenant Dan: The Man, the Shrimp Boat, and the Hurricane

Lieutenant Dan Taylor, like the fictional character in the movie Forrest Gump, lost his legs in battle. But unlike the character, Lieutenant Dan is a real-life sailor who has faced down hurricanes and even a shark attack.
In 2017, Lieutenant Dan was living on his shrimp boat in Tampa Bay when Hurricane Irma hit. The storm surge was so powerful that it lifted his boat off its moorings and sent it crashing into a dock. Lieutenant Dan was thrown from the boat and into the water.
“I thought I was going to die,” he said. “I was fighting to stay afloat, but the waves were so big that I couldn’t keep my head above water. I was ready to give up.”
Lieutenant Dan heard the sound of a helicopter and looked up. The helicopter was hovering over him, and a rescue worker was lowering a basket. Lieutenant Dan grabbed the basket and was pulled to safety.
“I can’t believe I’m still alive,” Lieutenant Dan said. “I’m so thankful to the people who rescued me.”
Lieutenant Dan’s story is a reminder that even in the face of adversity, there is always hope. He has faced down hurricanes and sharks, and he has come out of it all with a smile on his face.
After Hurricane Irma, Lieutenant Dan moved his boat to a safer location. He still lives on the boat, and he said he’s not afraid of another hurricane.
“I’m a survivor,” he said. “I’m not going to let a hurricane get me down.”