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It's A Fact! Have You Ever Been Struck By Lightning?
Roy Sullivan was struck by lightning seven times throughout his lifetime. No one on record has been struck by lightning as many times as Sullivan. He earned a place in ‘The Guinness Book of Records’ and acquired the nickname, ‘lightning rod’.
Roy Sullivan was a ranger in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, USA. His unfortunate recurrences happened between 1942 and 1977.
His first experience occurred when he was young but this was not officially verified. He was cutting wheat in the meadow with his father and he used a scythe. The lightning hit the blade of the scythe and bounced off towards the ground and set the grass on fire.
His first official lightning strike occurred during April 1942. He sheltered from a thunderstorm inside a fire lookout tower. Unfortunately, a lightning rod had not been fitted on the newly built tower. Inside the tower, “fire was jumping all over the place”, therefore he ran outside and was immediately struck by lightning. It burned a half inch strip all the way down right leg and knocked the big toe off. His boot was full of blood and it all ran out through a hole in his sole.
In 1969, He drove along a mountain road and encountered his second lightning strike. After hitting nearby trees, the lightning deflected into the open window of his truck which knocked him unconscious and burnt most of his hair off including his eyelashes and his eyebrows. His truck veered out of control, eventually coming to a stand still near the edge of a cliff.
One year later, Sullivan was standing at the edge of his garden and he was struck by lightning again. It hit on the left hand shoulder after making its first impact with a power transformer. He was knocked several feet away and sustained minor burns.
The next collision with a lightning strike occurred in 1972. After this occurred Sullivan believed himself to be jinxed and when he heard thunder, fright came over him. He believed he attracted lightning and would be struck again so he always carried a can of water in his truck with him.
On the 7th August 1973 a storm cloud began to form so Sullivan ran to his truck and sped off. The cloud seem to follow him, however he thought he had outrun the cloud. This was not the case; he got out of his van and was struck by lightning. It struck him down the left side of his body, setting his hair on fire and knocking one of his shoes off. He was dazed but went to his van to get the can of water.
On the 5th June 1976 he was hit again by lightning similarly by being followed by a storm cloud, this time it hit his ankles.
A year later while Sullivan was fishing in a freshwater pool he was struck by lightning for the seventh and last time. It hit the top of his head and singed his hair. It travelled down his chest and stomach causing burns.
Roy Sullivan was never killed by lightning
Reference: Louis Proud. (2010). Lightnings Destructive and Transformative Power. Nexus New Times. 17 (2), 45-46.
