was hit by flying debris during a live broadcast, while reporting on Hurricane Milton.
The has been , with heavy and winds impacting much of , leaving millions without power.
Shortly over the situation, Anderson was on the ground near Siesta Key for CNN on Wednesday night, warning that the situation was starting to worsen.
‘The water now is really starting to pour over. If you at the ground, whoa,’ the 57-year-old began debris swung into the show and hit him.
‘Okay, that wasn’t good,’ the reporter continued with the broadcast after steadying himself. ‘We’ll probably go inside shortly, but you can see the amount of water here on the ground.
‘This is water from the Manatee River.’
Shortly after, CNN’s Kailin Collins appeared on screen to reassure viewers watching from home that the presenter is ‘okay’ following the worrying scenes.
‘I do want to note for everyone watching who is very concerned obviously about all of our correspondents and anchors on the ground, Anderson is okay,’ she announced.
‘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.’
Fans flocked to Twitter to unpack the footage, urging .
AngryStaffer penned: ‘I’m watching CNN and really appreciate the hurricane coverage, but Anderson Cooper should really go inside. That water is crazy.’
Shannon quipped: ‘Watching Anderson Cooper literally clinging to trees in a hurricane is peak CNN.’
Erin Qualey wrote: ‘For all that is good and holy, get Anderson Cooper to shelter, @CNN!!! We do not need to see America’s sweetheart washed away by a vengeful sea. My heart can’t handle it.’
Chloe Dern agreed: ‘Watching my man Anderson Cooper fight for his life on CNN. Get him home right now!’
As Shaun added: ‘A friend told me to flip to CNN to see how utterly goofy it is that they have Anderson Cooper out there dying in a storm. His feed just cut out.
‘Also so impressed by the advance in microphone technology that these guys sound so crisp inside a literal hurricane.’
The weather is still continuing to ravage parts of Florida, with four deaths confirmed in St Lucie county.
More than 16 inches of rain has been recorded in St Petersburg, while Tampa is also still in a state of emergency and water levels are reportedly expected to rise.
Florida governor Ron DeSantis shared on Thursday: ‘The storm was significant but thankfully, this was not the worst-case scenario.’
