Lightning Does Strike Twice

Posted by Maureen K. Fleury Mar 26, 2008

Roy C. Sullivan was employed as a park ranger at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and was struck by lightning seven times! He survived them all.

• 1942: struck by lightning the first time when he was in a fire lookout tower. The bolt hit him in the leg and he lost a toenail on his big toe.
• 1969: hit by lightning while driving his truck on a mountain road. He was knocked unconscious and his eyebrows were burned.
• 1970: struck by lightning while walking across his front yard. It burned his left shoulder.
• 1972: hit while in the ranger station. Sullivan’s hair caught fire and he decided he should carry a pitcher of water from now on.
• 1973: struck while on patrol in the park. He was blown out of his vehicle and his hair caught fire. Good thing he had the water.
• 1974: hit while checking out a campground. He claimed a cloud was chasing him and he ran away. Sullivan broke his ankle.
• 1977: struck by lightning while out fishing. He was hospitalized for burns on his stomach and chest.

Tragically, Roy Sullivan passed away in 1983 but not due to being hit by lightning. He committed suicide over the loss of a woman.

In Page County Virginia, there is a roadside plaque on Tanner’s Ridge in remembrance of Roy Sullivan. The Guiness World Exhibit Halls in New York City and in South Carolina have two of Sullivan’s burnt ranger hats on display.

Good thing Roy never met up with a widow in Bulgaria.

• Her first husband was killed by lightning and same with her second husband.
• She went to her doctor for treatment of her depression. She married the doctor and he was killed by lightning!