A man from Florida took drastic action to protect his car from a hailstorm, and the chaotic moment was caught on video, quickly going viral.
Manny Rosado, living in Palm Bay, is seen scrambling during a heavy hailstorm. He climbed onto the roof of his car and used his body to shield the sunroof with a makeshift cover.
The video, which gained popularity on TikTok, portrays Rosado dramatically sprawled on top of his vehicle, kicking his legs and positioning himself as chunks of hail fell around him.
At first glance, it might look like a comedy sketch, but it was all too real.
“Yes, it hurt,” Rosado admitted in a TikTok post, acknowledging the physical impact of the hail.
He later shared that he rushed outside as the storm worsened, eager to minimize potential damage to his car.
“We were setting up a tent to prevent the sunroof from caving in when the hail started,” he recounted, recalling the frantic moments that led to his now-famous video.
In the clip, Rosado is clearly stuck, gripping the cover while ice continues to pound down all around him, essentially becoming a human shield.
Despite how absurd it looked, there was a serious motivation behind his actions.
In reply to viewers who questioned why he didn’t just let the storm happen, he addressed their concerns directly: “Hail can get worse and bigger, and I didn’t want to deal with insurance claims,” he noted.
He referenced previous storms in the area, emphasizing their damaging potential.
“A couple of years back, many people I know faced substantial losses, ranging from $3,000 to $5,000. I’d rather make an effort to shield my car,” he expressed.
The footage sparked a mix of reactions online, with people both laughing at his dramatic method and sympathizing with his efforts to safeguard his property.
For Rosado, his split-second decision, though it may have appeared reckless, was based on tough experiences and a strong desire to avoid costly repairs.
It remains uncertain whether his gamble actually protected the sunroof.
While many find the episode amusing, Rosado’s reflections clearly indicate that the stakes were quite serious.
“I’d rather try it,” he concluded.
