Frane Selak: The Man Who Defied Death Seven Times and Found Luck in the Lottery
In the realm of extraordinary tales, few stories capture the imagination quite like that of Frane Selak, a Croatian man who has seemingly danced with death on seven separate occasions. Born in 1929, Selak’s life reads like a Hollywood script, filled with dramatic twists, improbable escapes, and a lottery win that turned his luck around.
Selak’s journey through the extraordinary began in 1962 when the train he was on derailed and crashed into a river. Miraculously, he emerged unscathed, while 17 others met a tragic end.
During his first and only plane ride, Selak was blown out of a malfunctioning plane door, landing in a haystack. The plane, carrying 19 people, crashed, leaving Selak as the lone survivor. In 1966, a bus carrying Selak skidded off the road and into a river, claiming the lives of four passengers. Selak swam to safety with only a few cuts and bruises.
His car caught fire in 1970 while he was driving, and he narrowly escaped before the fuel tank exploded. Three years later, another driving incident saw his car’s engine engulfed in flames from a malfunctioning fuel pump, yet Selak emerged unscathed.
In 1995, a bus struck him in Zagreb, but he suffered only minor injuries.
Selak’s seventh brush with death occurred in 1996 when he avoided a head-on collision with a United Nations truck. Ejected from his car, he clung to a tree branch, watching his vehicle plunge 300 feet.
Despite these harrowing experiences, Selak’s life took an unexpected turn when, two days after his 73rd birthday, he won €900,000 in the lottery. His winnings sparked a new chapter in his life, marked by a fifth marriage and the acquisition of two houses and a boat.
In 2010, Selak chose to share his newfound fortune, opting for a frugal lifestyle and generously giving most of the money to friends and relatives.
Selak’s captivating stories have been recounted by various media outlets, including The Telegraph and Der Spiegel. However, the lack of independent verification and occasional inconsistencies in his accounts have raised skepticism.
Regardless of doubts, Selak maintained an optimistic outlook, saying, “You could look at it two ways. I either had the worst luck ever or the best. I preferred to think it was the latter. His friends, however, grew hesitant to be in a vehicle with him, a testament to the incredibility of his tales.
While plans for documenting Selak’s experiences in media remain uncertain, his life stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Selak’s incredible journey serves as an inspiration to people worldwide, demonstrating that luck can shine even in the face of adversity. His story encourages readers to reflect on their own challenges, emphasizing the importance of determination during tough moments.
In the end, Frane Selak’s life is a remarkable narrative that challenges us to reconsider our perceptions of luck, fate, and the power of a positive outlook in the face of life’s most daunting challenges.
