Anderson Cooper was hit in the face by debris just minutes after Hurricane Milton struck in Siesta Key, Florida.
The reporter, 57, was covering the catastrophic disaster live for CNN in Bradenton, just a few miles from Siesta Key, when he suffered impact from a piece of flying debris.
He quickly recovered while shouting: ‘Woah! That wasn’t good. We’ll probably go inside shortly.’
The dedicated news anchor — known for his coverage of natural disasters — then proceeded to carry on with his report.
However, a number of his worried fans expressed their concern as they pleaded with Cooper to ‘go inside.’
Anderson Cooper, 57, was hit in the face by debris just minutes after Hurricane Milton struck in Siesta Key, Florida
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Hurricane Milton turns deadly with Floridians ordered to 'seek higher ground NOW'
‘What does putting Anderson Cooper on a pier in the middle of the ocean at the height of a hurricane in its center achieve in informing viewers. It’s like 120mph winds. Get my sweet porcelain glass anchor inside,’ one person wrote.
‘”It’s important for everyone to stay inside” the FEMA rep tells CNN while Anderson Cooper is fighting for his life in Florida in the split screen.’
‘Can someone get Anderson Cooper away from that railing before he’s washed away?’
‘Someone rescue Anderson Cooper from CNN,’ another fan added.
‘Are y’all watching @andersoncooper and this other dude on CNN right now? STUPID to have them out in this weather. No need for this. We get it. Go inside!’
‘Anderson Cooper saying the water is up to his knees where there are in Bradenton at midnight. Listening to him speak: every maternal bone in my body is saying please Anderson go inside!’
‘The live abuse of Anderson Cooper in Milton continues but with waves smashing him on air,’ someone else joked.
‘CNN had better let Anderson Cooper black out on New Year’s Eve for this.’
The reporter was covering the catastrophic disaster live for CNN in Bradenton, just a few miles from Siesta Key, when he suffered impact from a piece of flying debris
He quickly recovered while shouting: ‘Woah! That wasn’t good. We’ll probably go inside shortly’
The dedicated news anchor — known for his coverage of natural disasters — then proceeded to carry on with his report
However a number of his worried fans expressed their concern as they pleaded with Cooper to ‘go inside’
‘Poor Anderson Cooper,’ someone else chimed in
‘What does putting Anderson Cooper on a pier in the middle of the ocean at the height of a hurricane in its center achieve in informing viewers. It’s like 120mph winds. Get my sweet porcelain glass anchor inside,’ one person wrote
‘Can someone get Anderson Cooper away from that railing before he’s washed away?’
‘He needs to go inside,’ another commentator wrote
‘The live abuse of Anderson Cooper in Milton continues but with waves smashing him on air,’ someone else joked
Others shared memes as they questioned why Cooper was out in such dire weather conditions
‘CNN had better let Anderson Cooper black out on New Year’s Eve for this’
‘This guy is working hard tonight! Stay safe down there @AC360 ….he still had some humor when he got smacked in the face with thankfully some styrofoam!’
‘Are y’all watching @andersoncooper and this other dude on CNN right now? STUPID to have them out in this weather. No need for this. We get it. Go inside!’
‘What is Anderson doing?’ someone questioned
‘Someone rescue Anderson Cooper from CNN. #HurricaneMilton’
‘”It’s important for everyone to stay inside” the FEMA rep tells CNN while Anderson Cooper is fighting for his life in Florida in the split screen’
‘ My girlfriend is having a full on melt down because @cnn has her favorite thing on earth @andersoncooper in the middle of a life threatening hurricane’
‘ My girlfriend is having a full on melt down because @cnn has her favorite thing on earth @andersoncooper in the middle of a life threatening hurricane.’
‘This guy is working hard tonight! Stay safe down there @AC360 ….he still had some humor when he got smacked in the face with thankfully some styrofoam!’
Cooper is a renowned journalist and television personality. He is best known for his work as the host of CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360.
Cooper has covered a wide range of natural disasters throughout his career, including Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Sandy, and Hurricane Florence.
Winds from Hurricane Milton have torn the roof off Tropicana Field, the domed MLB stadium that has been used as a shelter for first responders and those removing debris from Hurricane Helene.
Hurricane Milton has already killed multiple people as authorities warn any residents left behind ‘SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW.’
The Sheriff of Florida’s St. Lucie County has said there have been ‘multiple fatalities’ due to a tornado outbreak ahead of the arrival of Milton on Wednesday.
A Flash Flood Emergency was declared in the Tampa area from the high waters from Hurricane Milton, which made landfall as a Category 3 storm Wednesday night.
The National Weather Service has declared a Flash Flood Emergency after 10 to 14 inches of rain have fallen in the Tampa Bay area, a region of just over two million people.
Cooper has covered a wide range of natural disasters throughout his career, including Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Sandy, and Hurricane Florence; seen in 2024
The emergency in Tampa will last until at least 2:30 a.m. local time, with some nearby areas facing flash flooding until 4 a.m.
‘Between 10 and 14 inches of rain have fallen. Flash flooding is already occurring,” the NWS said. “This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW!’
The National Hurricane Center says the storm made landfall at Siesta Key, Florida, a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico near Sarasota, with maximum sustained winds of 120 miles per hour.
Already, over two million people in the region are without power due to the storm.