CNN anchor Anderson Cooper was struck by flying debris Wednesday night while reporting from Bradenton, Florida as Hurricane Milton made landfall in the region.
During live coverage of Hurricane Milton shortly after the hurricane made landfall, Cooper was seen struck by flying debris as he stood against a backdrop of strong winds and swelling waters from the Manatee River. Cooper was delivering his report when a square-shaped object, propelled by the storm’s powerful gusts, hit him in the chest and face, and Cooper was seen visibly shocked but quickly regained his composure to update viewers.
WATCH:
“The wind has really picked up,” he said. “The water’s really moving. You can get a sense of just how fast the wind is moving there. You can see it in the light there. It is now just whipping off the Manatee River. It’s coming from kind of the north, I guess northeast. And the water now is really starting to pour over. If you look at the graph–whoa!”
Despite the harrowing experience, Cooper continued to provide updates on the hurricane’s impact, noting the significant flooding caused by both the river and overflow from the land. “Ok, that wasn’t good,” Cooper said. “I’ll probably go inside shortly. But you can see the amount of water here on the ground. Landfall.”
Hurricane Milton struck Siesta Key, Florida, as a Category 3 storm with sustained winds of 120 mph, after weakening from a Category 4, according to the National Hurricane Center. Officials had warned residents along Florida‘s Gulf Coast to evacuate or brace for severe impacts earlier in the week.
All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline, and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
- Gallego makes bold claim about Trump’s intentions toward Venezuela - December 17, 2025
- Scott Jennings clarifies where Wiles stands with Trump after Vanity Fair backlash - December 17, 2025
- Trump orders major escalation against Venezuela - December 17, 2025
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
BPR INSIDER COMMENTS
Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!
