The tennis community has always come together in the face of global threats. While discussions usually center on events within the sport, this time the focus is much larger. Florida was recently devastated by a natural disaster, resulting in significant loss of life and damage to infrastructure. Although top players like Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula are focused on the Asian swing, they were visibly shaken by the tragic news. Amid this crisis, rumors surfaced on social media about a man braving the dangerous storm in his boat, prompting further reflection within the tennis community.

A Tampa local, known by the viral nickname ‘Lieutenant Dan,’ gained widespread attention on TikTok after announcing that he would face Hurricane Milton on his 20-foot fishing boat in Tampa Bay. Despite rescue units attempting to reach him, the man, later identified as Joe Sea, refused to abandon his plan. Videos shared by user Tampa Terrence drew millions of views as Joe initially agreed to join the mass evacuation but was later spotted anchored in Tampa Bay as the storm approached.

As the hurricane approached, social media platform X started buzzing with another video featuring Sea’s boat drifting from the pier in downtown Tampa. “Lieutenant Dan’s boat is starting to drift… Authorities said he declined to move to a shelter,” the caption said, adding more to the already concerning situation. The former coach of American tennis sensation Coco Gauff, Brad Gilbert, stepped forward to comment on the video. “Hopefully 🙏 someone will get him very soon,” Gilbert wrote on X, expressing his fears that the viral man could face grave danger if he continued to resist seeking help.

Despite the worry, Sea stood firm on his boat and dismissed calls to seek shelter. But in a press conference on Wednesday, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor confirmed that “Lieutenant Dan” had finally been rescued by the Tampa Police Department. “The Tampa Police Department, this morning, just saved Lieutenant Dan,” Castor revealed. “He is now in a shelter. If we can get Lieutenant Dan to go to a shelter, we can get anybody to do that.”

Amid the disturbing scenes caused by the Category 5 storm, Coco Gauff did not forget to show her support for her home state. Currently at a tennis tournament in Wuhan, China, the Delray Beach native took to social media to share information about shelters provided by the Orange County Government and offered her prayers to those in danger. “Please Stay Safe Florida,” Gauff wrote on her Instagram story along with a folding hand emoji.

However, these two weren’t the only ones to show concerns amid tough times for Florida.

Besides Coco Gauff, scary updates emerge from other WTA stars

Former tennis pro-Chris Evert, a resident of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, joined in raising awareness about the staggering danger of Hurricane Milton. Evert shared a message on social media that was targeted to amplify a warning from Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, who urged residents to evacuate, as the storm “isn’t survivable.” Evert, in her message, said, “Please take this warning seriously!” Her plea came at a crucial moment as the destructive storm continued its approach toward the Florida coastline, posing a threat to millions of lives.

Eugenie Bouchard also took to social media to share her own experience while running the storm. The Canadian tennis star shared several posts as she made her way to safety. In one of the posts, Bouchard was seen in a car on the way to the Florida airport, captioning it, “escaping the storm.” She later posted a screenshot of her phone’s home screen, that showed national alerts for Hurricane Milton. She also shared a photo taken from her plane’s window, with water droplets on the glass, writing “Stay safe everyone” to remind the natives to take their safety seriously.

As Hurricane Milton began to unleash its wrath on Florida’s coastal areas, Evert, Bouchard, Coco Gauff and several other tennis stars saw the importance of spreading the update. With storms of this magnitude, advice from experts is crucial. Lives can be saved by staying informed and therefore these updates were considered valuable gestures.