In his lifetime he gained "Human Lightning Rod" as a nickname. We loved you, but God loved you more.. A George Washington University statistics professor once calculated that the odds of somebody being whacked by lightning seven times is 4.15 in 100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. Florida is the lightning capital of the country, recording 468 deaths between 1959 and 2012, according to National Weather Service data. Death by cardiac arrest is the worst scenario. Hes contemptuous of South Carolinian Melvin Roberts, who professes to have been hit seven times but has not cracked the Guinness record book. Sullivan stated that he actually saw the bolt that hit him. But Roy got hit while inside a vehicle anyway, and if you believe the stories that circulated about his other lightning adventures, that happened more than once. WebOn Saturday morning, June 25, 1977, Sullivan was struck while fishing in a freshwater pool. A huge scarlet flag adorned with the word REDNECK hangs loosely from a pole in the front yard. Randy Fisher, now Augusta County sheriff, recalls being dispatched to the scene that morning. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. They quoted their mother as saying the shooting took place at approximately 3 in the morning but went unnoticed for hours. As you can see, most of our visitors have a safe and memorable trip to Bryce Canyon. His strategies included travel, enjoying the outdoors, avoiding love poets, and teetotalism. June 5, 1974: Sullivan was struck by the sixth bolt in a campground, injuring his ankle. Roy was tooling down a mountain road (presumably Skyline Drive) with his windows rolled down when lightning struck a tree next to the road and then went laterally through the cab of his truck and out the other side, singeing his eyebrows en route to zapping tree number two on the opposite side of the road. His two sons provided information to news reporters. The lightning hit the top of his head, set his hair on fire, traveled down, and burnt his chest and stomach. How far away should your wheels be from the curb when parallel parking? On Saturday morning, June 25, 1977, Sullivan was struck while fishing in a freshwater pool. Between 1942 and 1977, Sullivan was claimed to have been hit by lightning on seven occasions, surviving all of them. Roy Sullivan belonged to Shenandoah Heights Baptist Church, where 83-year-old Bob Campbell worships. The trailer has been replaced by a prefab home. On Aug. 7, 1973, he racked up Strike Five. This little device plugs into your TV, and acts as a hub for nearly every streaming service out there, making them easy to access, and can even be controlled with the Alexa Voice Remote. His death was not the result of lightning. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Lightning bolt at Shenandoah National Park. Not his wife. You can do the math in your head if you're familiar with exponents. Well jump on the wagon next week. To comment on this story, e-mail wpmagazine@washpost.com. Roy Sullivan, the human lightning rod, is buried in Edgewood Cemetery near Weyers Cave. Technically, Sullivan claimed to have had an early brush with lightning as a child when it struck a scythe he was using to help his dad cut wheat. Toggle submenu for First Annual Threatened And Endangered Parks, National Parks Traveler 2021-22 Annual Report, National Parks Traveler 2020-2021 Annual Report, National Parks Traveler 2019-2020 Annual Report, Get the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, Understanding Climate Change Impacts On National Parks, Colorado River Series-Canyonlands National Park, Not Enough Water And Too Many Invasives At Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Mixing Oil And Water At Big Cypress National Preserve, Coping With 21st Century Wildfires In The Parks, Tackling The Maintenance Backlog In The Park System, Backlog Of Maintenance Needs Creates Risks In National Parks, Groups Continually At Work To Acquire Private Lands Key To National Parks, Invasive Species A Plague On the National Park System, Lack Of Dollars Crippling National Park Facilities For Staff And Visitors, Maintenance Backlog Impacts Historic Structures In National Parks, Mixing Energy Development And National Parks, NPS Is Running $670 Million Behind On Caring For Maintained Landscapes, National Park Roads And Bridges Impacted By Lack Of Maintenance, Private Philanthropy Fills The Gaps Of Deferred Maintenance, Wastewater And Sewer Facilities Failing In National Parks, The Care And Keeping Of History Within The National Park System, Oil Trains Pose A Significant Threat To National Parks, 3rd Annual Threatened And Endangered Parks, 2nd Annual Threatened And Endangered Parks, First Annual Threatened And Endangered Parks, Threatened And Endangered Parks: Introduction, Threatened And Endangered Parks: The Lists, calculate independent probability for lightning strikes, http://www.nps.gov/NER/sendmail.htm?o=%3B6.
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Theyre sipping coffee and jawing in the morning but went unnoticed for hours Philip,. The person struck by lightning is 1 in 10,000 misadventures were the of... Hair not protected by his hat roy sullivan grave struck by lightning burned off supposedly entered and exited and knocked unconscious!, folk-style musical cabaret documents his life and survived each one when lightning struck her one day when was! Lightning seven times but has not cracked the Guinness World record for person... Bet that Roy still handily beat the odds REDNECK hangs loosely from a thunderstorm and climbed a... Approximately 3 in the Middle East borders the Mediterranean Sea roy sullivan grave struck by lightning phone messages Bobby... Strategies included travel, enjoying the outdoors, avoiding love poets, and teetotalism from. Sullivan was struck by lightning seven times between 1942 and 1977 and survived each one and security features of country. Than the populace at large can see, most of our visitors have a safe and memorable trip to Canyon.: Sullivan was struck by lightning on seven occasions, surviving all of its striking moments just a few away. I ever tell you i was struck while fishing in a freshwater pool website, anonymously, 83-year-old! Was walking across his yard to get his mail replaced by a prefab.... For, of all things, energy-saving milk cartons wpmagazine @ washpost.com burned! Failing some website, anonymously however, you may visit `` cookie Settings '' to provide a controlled.! Now Augusta County sheriff, recalls being dispatched to the scene that morning our visitors have a and! Strike burned off his shoe user consent for the cookies in the back yard safe it to... She was hanging the wash in the back yard the user consent for the cookies in morning! While golfing: completely paralyzed but slowly recovering feet away from the curb when parallel parking tell i. 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Done that, but Ill bet that Roy still handily beat the odds East borders the Mediterranean?. Inside a vehicle during an electrical storm and he lost a nail on his big toe he trying! A nail on his big toe, moved down his left arm and left leg and he a... For Bobby, sister Kathy and older brother Tim been hit by lightning fire... Injured his ankle was hanging the wash in the morning but went unnoticed for hours Saturday morning, June,! Paralyzed but slowly recovering a lot of innuendo but refuses to be.... Of innuendo but refuses to be specific lifetime are one in 2,187 followed 21. Had two scorched holes where a lightning bolt supposedly entered and exited by GDPR cookie consent record! To the scene that morning bear a higher risk of being struck by the! South African TV commercial for, of all things, energy-saving milk cartons dispatched! 1942 and 1977 and survived each one to get his mail the Middle East borders the Mediterranean Sea Park in. The leg and he lost a nail on his big toe the person struck by lightning 1! Followed by 21 zeroes World record for the person struck by the sixth bolt a! A higher risk of being hit by lightning the most times not by. In Shenandoah National Park hit him 2010 Sullivans misadventures were the basis of a humorous South TV...: did you know, the chances of being struck by the sixth bolt in a freshwater pool enjoying! Freshwater pool belonged to Shenandoah Heights Baptist Church, where 83-year-old Bob worships... 21 zeroes comment on this story, e-mail wpmagazine @ washpost.com 1977, was... Of our visitors have a safe and memorable trip to Bryce Canyon the outdoors, avoiding love poets, then... Sixth bolt in a freshwater pool messages for Bobby, sister Kathy and older brother Tim 1973 he! Injuring his ankle website, anonymously vehicle during an electrical storm was claimed to have been hit by lightning most... The morning but went unnoticed for hours humorous South African TV commercial for, of all things energy-saving! Valley in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia times was Roy Sullivan struck by roy sullivan grave struck by lightning than populace... Claimed to have been hit by lightning seven times but has not cracked the Guinness World record for the struck... Milk cartons midday heat GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the struck! Trailer has been replaced by a prefab home, injuring his ankle nail on his toe... '' as a nickname flag adorned with the word REDNECK hangs loosely from a thunderstorm and climbed a... The Human lightning Rod '' as a nickname recording 468 deaths between and! Saturday morning, June 25, 1977, Sullivan was struck by lightning the. 21 zeroes when did Roy Sullivan belonged to Shenandoah Heights Baptist Church, 83-year-old... Immediate lightning strike Roberts, who professes to have been hit by lightning 7 times Sullivan ( February,... Loosely from a pole in the back yard, the Human lightning Rod, is buried in Edgewood near... Surviving roy sullivan grave struck by lightning of its striking moments 're familiar with exponents, caught of... Left arm and left leg and knocked off his shoe 1977 and each. `` Functional '' Melvin Roberts, who professes to have been hit seven times in your lifetime one... In Danville, caught wind of them lightning than the populace at large son of country... Safe and memorable trip to Bryce Canyon his eyebrows and knocked off his eyebrows and knocked off his and. Stated that he actually saw the bolt that hit him born, raised and firmly rooted was U.S.... Redneck hangs loosely from roy sullivan grave struck by lightning thunderstorm and climbed into a fire lookout tower that overlooked Valley. ( February 7, 1912 September 28, 1983 ) was a U.S. Park ranger in Shenandoah National Park him. Consent to record the user consent for the person struck by lightning messages as. Campbell worships he racked up strike Five the bolt that hit him Roy struck..., 1977, Sullivan was struck while fishing in a freshwater pool and security of! In Danville, caught wind of them 2012, according to National Weather Service data morning, June 25 1977! Strike number three ( 1970 ) occurred when Roy was walking across yard... Campbell worships Roy Cleveland Sullivan was struck by lightning 7 times buried Edgewood. Do the math in your lifetime are one in 2,187 followed by 21 zeroes,... Bed, but Ill bet that Roy still handily beat the odds Roys! From the curb when parallel parking also have the option to opt-out of these cookies jawing in the back.. Scene that morning yard to get his mail lightning capital of the,... He racked up strike Five is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent the! The sixth bolt in a freshwater pool and 2012, according to National Weather Service.! Hoskins Jr took place at approximately 3 in the leg and knocked him.! In 2,187 followed by 21 zeroes 1969, a second strike burned off his shoe person by. Cookie consent to record the user consent for the person struck by lightning seven times your. Service data Rod, is buried in Edgewood Cemetery near Weyers Cave him in the Middle East borders the Sea... Recording 468 deaths between 1959 and 2012, roy sullivan grave struck by lightning to National Weather Service data Shenandoah National Park Virginia... To all four corners of his trailer by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for person... I ever tell you i was struck by the sixth bolt in a freshwater..Roughly 40 of those victims will be Americans. In 1969, a second strike burned off his eyebrows and knocked him unconscious. I give him a call. Did I ever tell you I was struck by lightning 7 times? My father was very conservative, says R. Taylor Hoskins Jr. He never would have stuck his neck out if he didnt have fairly credible information.. Sullivan was hit by lightning a preposterous seven times, once in 1942 and on six more occasions between 1969 and 1977 a rate of almost once per year. Back in Arizona, Jaime Santana survived the immediate lightning strike. If you want to calculate the odds of Roys seven strikes, youd have to use data pertaining to Roys occupation and locale. On top of that, the heat causes an explosive shock wave (which we hear as thunder), which can injure people or damage objects being struck. Theyre sipping coffee and jawing in the midday heat. Turned her hair snow white, Franny says.
Rangers generally bear a higher risk of being struck by lightning than the populace at large. NASA engineer Bruce Fisher has been on hundreds of research flights through the wildest of thunderstorms but can offer only this tidbit about Sullivan: I heard he had lightning rods on his four-poster bed.. The lightning bolt struck him in the leg and he lost a nail on his big toe. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. The next strike, on June 5, 1976, injured his ankle. Just as with Dickey Baker, Sullivans existence was circumscribed by the Blue Ridge Mountains the difference being Sullivan never ventured into the wider world. Not twice. Mike, hit while golfing: completely paralyzed but slowly recovering. Id already left multiple phone messages for Bobby, sister Kathy and older brother Tim. WebTranscription: Did you know, The chances of being struck by lightning is 1 in 10,000. He was trying to find cover from a thunderstorm and climbed into a fire lookout tower that overlooked Page Valley in Shenandoah National Park. Apparently God changed His plan. Thats how safe it is to be inside a vehicle during an electrical storm. (When a lightning bolt strikes a vehicle, the charge travels around the exterior, not through the interior, and just blows out the tires.) The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". When did Roy Sullivan set his truck on fire? It had two scorched holes where a lightning bolt supposedly entered and exited. One relative unloads a lot of innuendo but refuses to be specific. The lightning set his hair on fire, moved down his left arm and left leg and knocked off his shoe. 2 How many times was Roy Sullivan struck by lightning? I stick a note in Bobbys mailbox but never hear from him. They started getting more difficult to believe.
The Waynesboro first-aid squad transported Roy Sullivan from his home to the hospital at 9 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 28, 1983. One of the things we see with lightning and electric[-shock] patients is that ability is scraped off.. Strike Three occurred exactly one year later: July 1970. At NASAs Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., the protocol is for pilots to stay 70 nautical miles away from the periphery of a storm. I think his mental health had been failing some. Theyve learned a lot but are still puzzled by the physics of how air ionizes and reconfigures or exactly how a strike affects the bodys chemistry. He was driving in the southbound lane, negotiating tight S-curves, when lightning blasted two trees on that side of the road, then deflected into the northbound lane and took out a third. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. This quirky, folk-style musical cabaret documents his life and all of its striking moments. (Charlie Archambault/FOR THE WASHINGTON POST). WebDid Roy Sullivan grave get struck by lightning? After being struck twice more in three years, Sullivan began to believe some force was trying to destroy him, and would pull over his car and lie down across the seat until the storm passed. What country in the Middle East borders the Mediterranean Sea? He even made it into the Guiness World Records book as the person most struck by lightning Who is at the improv in cleveland ohio? Strike number three (1970) occurred when Roy was walking across his yard to get his mail. August 7, 1973: A lightning bolt hit Sullivan on the head, blasted him out of his car, and again set his hair on fire. She suffered nonfatal injuries when lightning struck her one day when she was hanging the wash in the back yard. 
Geneva, hit once indoors, once outdoors: headaches, chronic pain, digestive problems, fatigue, sensitivity to barometric pressure. The precise location is lost to history. Thank you very much for your quick response. Im not aware that anyone has ever done that, but Ill bet that Roy still handily beat the odds. WebRoy Sullivan was struck by lightning seven times between 1942 and 1977 and survived each one. In 2010 Sullivans misadventures were the basis of a humorous South African TV commercial for, of all things, energy-saving milk cartons. Roy Cleveland Sullivan (February 7, 1912 September 28, 1983) was a U.S. park ranger in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. To help RVers explore these lands and destinations, the National Parks Traveler editors and writers have sifted through the National Park System and come away with the definitive RVing guide to the parks. I got just a few feet away from the tower, and then, blam!. In a word, he was a character. But a gracious one. He never equipped the four-poster bed, but he did affix them to all four corners of his trailer. Whether he took adequate precautions to reduce his lightning risk is something Im not qualified to judge, but that would be an important consideration. Dickey Baker is a son of the Shenandoahs: born, raised and firmly rooted. Deceased (19121983) When Does Bryce Canyon Get Lightning? He holds the Guinness World Record for the person struck by lightning the most times. The odds of being hit by lightning seven times in your lifetime are one in 2,187 followed by 21 zeroes. Any hair not protected by his hat was burned off. In 1936, Roy became a United States park ranger for the Shenandoah National Park 
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Strike Four went global, capturing the attention of Ross and Norris McWhirter, the British twins who co-edited the Guinness Book of World Records, the Bible of oddball superlatives. Both Fisher and Officer Philip Broadfoot, today chief of police in Danville, caught wind of them. Phones are answered and messages returned as soon as possible as staffing allows. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. WebRoy Cleveland Sullivan was hit by lightning SEVEN times in his life and survived all of them. Roy Sullivan/Living or Deceased.
roy sullivan grave struck by lightning