Roy Sullivan: The Man Struck by Lightning Seven Times and Lived to Tell the Tale
Roy Sullivan was born on February 7, 1912, in Greene County, Virginia, USA. He spent most of his life working as a park ranger in the Shenandoah National Park, where the beauty of nature surrounded him. However, it wasn’t just the natural beauty that defined his life — it was his incredible brush with lightning.
Throughout his years of service, Roy experienced not one, not two, but seven lightning strikes! Yes, you read that right—seven times lightning found its way to him, defying the odds and leaving many scratching their heads in disbelief.
Even more remarkable is that Roy survived each lightning strike without any significant injuries that would make him disabled. He didn’t merely survive — he lived to tell the tale, becoming a living testament to the unpredictable forces of nature.
These strikes earned him the the nicknames “Human Lightning Conductor” and “Human Lightning Rod”.
Sullivan is recognized by Guinness World Records as a person struck by lightning more recorded times than any other human being.
Start of Roy Sullivan’s life-long relationship with Lightenings
His first encounter with lightning occurred in 1942 when he was taking shelter from a thunderstorm in a fire lookout tower. The lightning bolt struck him, searing his leg and leaving him with burns, but he managed to escape with his life.
The tower was newly built and had no lightning rod at the time, he was said to have been struck seven to eight times.
Roy’s second lightning strike came in a rare event in July 1969, Sullivan found himself in his truck, navigating a mountain road when lightning struck.
Typically, the metal frame of a vehicle shields occupants from lightning by acting as a Faraday cage. However, this time, the lightning initially struck nearby trees, redirecting its path into the open window of Sullivan’s truck.
The impact rendered Sullivan unconscious, burned off his eyebrows and eyelashes, and ignited his hair. The vehicle, now out of control, continued its course until it halted dangerously close to the edge of a cliff.
As if two lightning strikes weren’t enough, Roy experienced five more throughout his life, each one defying the odds and leaving him with tales that seemed too extraordinary to be true.
Despite his encounters with nature’s fury, Roy remained responsible in his duties as a park ranger. He continued to serve the Shenandoah National Park until his retirement in 1977.
Why was Roy Sullivan hit by lightning so many times?
If strikes were independent, the chance of being hit seven times would be 1 in 1028 or 1 in 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.
However, for Sullivan, his job and location increased his exposure. Virginia, where he lived, sees 35 to 45 thunderstorm days yearly, mostly in June, July, and August. From 1959 to 2000, lightning killed 58 and injured 238 in Virginia, while in the US, 3,239 died and 13,057 were injured, mostly males aged 20 to 40 caught outdoors.
No one can definitely say why but it may be due combination of factors. His job demanded him to spend significant time outdoors, increasing his exposure to lightning strikes. While his deputation during, work timings, and overall safety infrastructure also played a role.
Moreover, his physical location and the nature of his work made him a more likely target for lightning strikes compared to the average person.
Sad ending
During the latter years of his life, Sullivan was reportedly avoided by others due to their fear of being struck by lightning—a fact that saddened him deeply. He once recounted an incident, saying, “For instance, I was walking with the Chief Ranger one day when lightning struck way off” (in the distance). The Chief remarked, “I’ll see you later.”
On the morning of September 28, 1983, Sullivan passed away at the age of 71, having died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Two of his ranger hats are currently showcased at Guinness World Exhibit Halls in New York City and South Carolina.
If strikes were independent, the chance of being hit seven times would be 1 in 1028 or 1 in 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.
However, for Sullivan, his job and location increased his exposure. Virginia, where he lived, sees 35 to 45 thunderstorm days yearly, mostly in June, July, and August. From 1959 to 2000, lightning killed 58 and injured 238 in Virginia, while in the US, 3,239 died and 13,057 were injured, mostly males aged 20 to 40 caught outdoors.
