(Image source: WYFF)
BY JENNIFER MECKLES
Odds of being struck by lightning in your lifetime:
Once? A one in ten thousand chance.
Twice? One in a nine million.
How about SIX times?
For 58-year old Melvin Roberts, its a six-fold freak accident.
But also a success story.
After surviving six lightning strikes -- he says -- there’s a weird correlation between lightning and his love life.
(Video: WYFF/NBC)
“I’ve been married five times and I’ve been hit by lightning five times... but she says this is the 6th time, so I’m going to have to -- I’m not leaving my wife so I’m going to have to try to do something different.” (Video: WCAU)
The media picked up Roberts’ story faster than the speed of... light. Aired by local stations ---
From Chicago:
“Yes, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 times! Melvin Roberts was in his yard earlier this week when it happened again. His wife could’t believe it when he called her and told her it happenend.”
To Washington, D.C.:
“Turned on his radio and heard a storm was coming up. So he goes outside to cover his lawn mower, and don’t ya know it BOOM. He was hit by lightning. He says his feet are still burning. And he has a headache.”
To Portland:
“After this last one he said, quote -- ‘I ain’t saying be afraid of it, but I’m going to have to learn to give it a little more respect.’”
But, as sore as he may feel this week, WTMA reports --- its nothing like last time.
“His fifth strike in 2007: Roberts spent a year in a wheelchair after being struck while trying to protect his chicken coop. He doesn’t remember being struck that time, he just remembers waking up with burn scars.”
The former heavy equipment operator is now disabled. A writer for the Stir asks -- how does he survive?
“At this point I think there needs to be an inquisition into this man's obvious super human strength and will to live. I mean, is he somehow harnessing the power of each bolt that hits him? His story is out of this world.”
And, ironically enough, the National Weather Service’s Lightning Safety Week ended just days ago. According to the research group -- this is the most dangerous time of year. Using Roberts’s story as an example, Seattle’s KCPQ warns its viewers:
“Just as a reminder, if you can hear thunder, you are within striking distance of a lightning bolt. So, they’ve changed that a little bit -- used to be count to 5, or whatever. Now, its like, if you can hear the thunder -- get indoors!”'
Transcript by Newsy.
