Roy Sullivan, a US park ranger, was struck by lightning 7 times between 1942 and 1977 - and survived every one. The bolts burned off his eyebrows, set his hair on fire more than once, seared his shoulder, and blew the nail off one toe. He took to carrying a can of water in his truck to put himself out. Co-workers started avoiding him in storms. Guinness lists him as the most lightning-struck person in history.
The Park Ranger Struck by Lightning 7 Times
Most people go their whole lives without being struck by lightning. Roy Sullivan was hit seven times - and walked away from every single one.
A Ranger at the Wrong Place, Again and Again
Sullivan spent his career patrolling Shenandoah National Park in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. The park sits in one of the most lightning-active regions of the eastern United States. His first strike came in April 1942, when a bolt hit him in the right leg as he fled a burning fire-tower lookout. He lost the nail on his big toe.
That alone would be a story. Sullivan kept going. A second bolt knocked him unconscious in his truck in 1969, burning off his eyebrows. A third seared his left shoulder in July 1970 while he was in his own garden.
Four More Strikes
By 1972, Sullivan had been struck three times and people at the park were starting to notice. That April, lightning found him inside a guardhouse and set his hair on fire. He beat the flames out with a wet towel. A year later, in August 1973, it happened again - a storm cloud tracked him as he drove away, and when he stepped out of his truck to check the sky, lightning hit and set his hair alight a second time. His legs were badly seared and he poured water over his head to douse the flames.
Strike six came in June 1976 during a walk, injuring his ankle. By then Sullivan had started carrying a bucket of water with him at all times.
The Seventh Strike
On June 25, 1977, Sullivan was fishing at a local pond when lightning struck the top of his head, set his hair on fire, and traveled down through his chest and stomach. He drove himself to the hospital. He was 65 years old and had now survived more confirmed lightning strikes than any person in recorded history.
Guinness World Records certified the achievement. Sullivan was known to show his scars to skeptical visitors who doubted his story.
The Record That Still Stands
Sullivan earned the nickname "Spark Ranger" among park staff. His wife was struck once - while hanging laundry - and Sullivan, who was helping her at the time, escaped injury. He retired from the park service and died in September 1983 at age 71. His seven-strike record has never been matched. A single lightning bolt carries roughly 300 million volts - Sullivan absorbed seven.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Verified Fact
Verified Jun 15, 2026
Source: View sourceShow verification details
Claims checked
- All seven strike dates (1942/1969/1970/1972/1973/1976/1977)
- Strike 1 (April 1942, burning fire-tower, right leg, lost toenail)
- Strike 2 (1969, unconscious in truck, burned eyebrows)
- Strike 3 (July 1970, left shoulder, garden/front yard)
- Strike 5 (August 1973, hair on fire, legs seared, poured water over head)
- Strike 6 (June 1976, walk, ankle injury)
- Strike 7 (June 25 1977, fishing, head/hair/chest/stomach, drove himself, age 65)
- Nickname "Spark Ranger"
- Wife struck while hanging laundry
- Guinness certificate carried/shown to visitors
- Died September 1983, age 71
- 300 million volts
- Odds 1 in 15,300 (FAQ)