Hard to believe
Roy Sullivan, the park ranger struck by lightning seven times
10 min
A Shenandoah park ranger was struck by lightning on seven separate occasions between 1942 and 1977 and survived them all, earning a Guinness record and the nickname the Human Lightning Rod.
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Show notes
Roy Sullivan survived seven documented lightning strikes between nineteen forty-two and nineteen seventy-seven.
The first official strike blew a hole through Sullivan's shoe and tore off his big toe nail.
Sullivan began carrying a water can everywhere after lightning repeatedly set his hair on fire.
Statistical odds of being struck seven times are calculated at one in ten to the twenty-eighth.
One strike occurred inside a truck because open windows bypassed the vehicle's protective Faraday cage.
Sullivan's wife was also struck by lightning while hanging laundry in their backyard.
In this episode
- 1Intro1 min
- 2The First Strike and the Unofficial Prequel2 min
- 3The Streak Intensifies2 min
- 4The Cloud That Followed Him3 min
- 5The Human Lightning Rod's Legacy2 min
- 6Outro1 min
Sources
- Roy Sullivan
- Roy Sullivan
- National Parks Traveler
- Park ranger struck by lightning 7 — or was it 8 — times: History
- Roy Sullivan: struck by lightning seven times | Watts & Wild
- "The Human Lightning Rod" - Futility Closet
- The Spark Ranger. Shenandoah National Park.
- Lightning Rod Man: The Unbelievable True Story of Roy Sullivan
- Roy Sullivan, The Human Lightning Rod | Case File #236 - Deep Cuts | iHeart
- The striking story of world record holder ‘Spark Ranger’ who was hit by lightning 7 times | Republic World
- Incredible story of man who survived being struck by lightning ...
- Park ranger struck by lightning 7 — or was it 8 — times: History
- Charred Ranger - Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine
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