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Well-known CNN anchor Anderson Cooper was hit in the head with flying debris while reporting live from Bradenton in the middle of Hurricane Milton on Wednesday (October 9) night, shortly after the hurricane made landfall along Florida's Gulf Coast.
Video footage captured by CNN shows the 57-year-old journalist point to something on the ground, when out of nowhere, he is struck in the head with a large white object, causing him to pause the broadcast for a brief second before analyzing the situation.
"If you look at the ground—whoa! That wasn’t good...We'll probably go inside shortly."
Cooper continued to deliver the report (despite being battered with heavy wind and rain), once again drawing attention to water from the Manatee River that pooled beneath him.
After the newscast lost connection, many viewers expressed their concern for Cooper, inquiring on the state of his health. Anchor Kaitlan Collins immediately confirmed that Cooper, and all other CNN corespondents on the ground amid Hurricane Milton's continued destruction, were not harmed.
"Anderson is ok, just obviously understandably difficult to establish a connection when you're seeing what's happening with the wind and the rain and obviously the deteriorating conditions by the minute."
Upon Hurricane Milton making landfall, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ushered a final warning (via X) to residents who chose to stay behind despite being told to evacuate days ago.
"Now is the time to shelter in place." He continued:
"First responders are staged and ready to go, as soon as weather conditions allow. Search and rescue efforts will be well underway to save lives before dawn, and they will continue for as long as it takes."
For more information about Hurricane Milton making landfall, read: Hurricane Milton Makes Landfall In Florida.