1. Early Life: Roy Cleveland Sullivan was born on February 7, 1912, in Green County, Virginia, United States. He grew up in a farming family and developed an early interest in working outdoors. 2. Park Ranger Career: Sullivan joined the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia in 1936 as a ranger. He spent most of his career in this role, patrolling the area and assisting visitors. 3. First Lightning Strike: On April 30, 1942, while Sullivan was in a lookout tower, lightning struck the tower, injuring him. This was the first recorded instance of his encounters with lightning. He was hiding from a thunderstorm in a fire look out tower. Te tower was newly built and had no lightning rod at the time. I was said to have been struck seven to eight times. Sullian described the scene from within the tower saying that fire was jumping all over the place. Sullvan was said to then have run out from the burning tower, jus before being struck a few feet away by lightning. It burned a half inch strip all along his right leg, hit his toe and left a hole in his shoe. 4. Additional Strikes: Over the next several decades, Sullivan was struck by lightning multiple times: - Second Strike (1943): While driving a truck, a lightning bolt hit a tree beside the road, which then traveled to the truck's metal cabin, striking Sullivan. The lightning first hit nearby trees and was deflected into the open window of the truck. He was knocked unconscious burned off his eyebrows and eyelashes and set his hair on fire. The uncontrolled truck kept moving until it stopped near a cliff edge. - Third Strike (1969): Lightning struck Sullivan while he was inside his ranger station. It set his hair on fire and caused burns. The strike hit a nearby power transformer and from there jumped to his left shoulder searing it. - Fourth Strike (1970): Sullivan was struck again, this time while in his truck. The lightning damaged his left shoulder. The strike set his hair on fire and tried to smoother the flames with his jacket and rushed to the restroom but couldn't fit under the water tap so used a wet towel. He carried a can of water with him in case his hair was set on fire. - Fifth Strike (1972): While out on patrol, a lightning bolt hit Sullivan directly, setting his hair on fire and burning his chest and stomach. Before the lightning hit him he tried to drive as far away as he could and when he stopped to get out and see the rains, that when the lightning hit him. He saw a cloud forming and drove away quickly. But later he said the cloud seemed to be following him. He finally thought that he had out-run it. Immdiately he was struck by a lightning bolt which he saw. It moved down his left arm and left leg and knocked off his shoe and crossed over his right toe just below the knee. Still conscious, he crawled to his truck and poured a can of water on his head he always kept there. - Sixth Strike (1973): Sullivan was struck by lightning for the sixth He said that a cloud he saw was following him and tried running away but hit anyway and his hair caught fire. and Final time While fishing in a fresh water pool. The lightning hit the top of his head and set his hair on fire., travelled down his chest and stomach. He turned to his car when something unexpected happened - a bear approached and tried to steal trout from his fishing line. He had the strength and courage to strike the bear with a tree branch, despie his hair on fire. He claimed it was the 22nd time he hit a bear with a stick, resulting in injuries to his ankle. He was outside with his wife and as the rains came, the tried to help his wife remove the clothes from the outside, and that's when he was struck.

5. Guinness World Records: Roy Sullivan's extraordinary experiences earned him a place in the Guinness World Records for "Most Lightning Strikes Survived by a Human." However, due to the rarity and extreme circumstances needed for lightning strikes, this record is unlikely to be broken. 6. Personal Life and Death: Sullivan led a mostly private life. He suffered from depression and died on September 28, 1983, at the age of 71 due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Roy Sullivan's encounters with lightning were exceptional, defying the odds of probability. His story serves as a testament to the unpredictability and power of nature, as well as the resilience of the human spirit in the face of extraordinary circumstances. He was deserted by most of his friends including family members being worried to be struck by a lightning.