The Human Lightning Rod: An Electricity Story

The Human Lightning Rod: The Story of Roy Sullivan

Today's story concerns Roy Sullivan, born in 1912, who earned a place in Guinness World Records after surviving seven lightning strikes during his lifetime.

The Virginia park ranger's remarkable story began in 1942, when lightning struck his right leg. In 1969, lightning reached him through an open car window, and the following year he was struck on his left shoulder.

In 1972, lightning set Sullivan's hair on fire; he managed to extinguish it with a wet towel. After that, he began carrying a container of water. A year later, lightning again passed through the left side of his body. Two further strikes followed in 1973 and 1977.

Sullivan also said that he had first encountered lightning as a child, when it struck his scythe as he worked in a field. He did not insist that this incident be counted among the recognized strikes.

The other incidents were documented by R. Taylor Hoskins, superintendent of Shenandoah National Park, where Sullivan worked, and by physicians who examined his burns. Despite these extraordinary encounters with lightning, Sullivan lived to the age of 71.