Frano Selak – A Million Dollar Man with Seven Lives and a Small Fortune
Born in 1929 in Croatia, Frano Selak was a music teacher long before he became the world’s (un)luckiest man. Frano Selak believes that God is with him, but he wouldn’t take any more chances.
Meet Frano Selak
What would you call a man who manages to escape death, not once but seven times, and win a lottery of a whopping $1 million? It is believed that Selak has escaped more road accidents than most people have ever experienced in their lives. With a knack for cheating death, 85-year old Frano Selak believes that God always keeps an eye on him. That’s right… meet Frano Selak – a million dollar man with seven lives and a small fortune!
Frano Selak’s Near Death Experiences
There’s nothing strikingly special about Frano Selak’s physical appearance, he looks pretty much like an average 85-year old man. But what’s really special is the life that this old music teacher has lived – quite extraordinary. Frano Selak survived one plane crash by accidentally falling out through a door that blew off of a cockpit, only to land on… wait for it… haystack (!), and several train and car accidents. Obviously the lady luck’s favorite lad, the silver streak on Selak’s record came in 2003 when he won the Croatian Million Dollar Lottery for almost $1 million (£600,000).
Train Accident
Frano Selak’s first dice with fate came in 1962 when he was travelling by train from Sarajevo (the capital and the largest city of Bosnia) to Dubrovnik, Croatia on a cold winter’s day. Unfortunately the train derailed and plunged into an icy river drowning 17 passengers. Frano barely made it to the riverbank, but survived with a shock, a bout of hypothermia, broken arm and a few bruises.
Plane Crash
The following year, Frano Selak decided not to travel by train and instead booked his first and only flight from Zagreb (capital and largest city of Croatia) to Rijeka (third largest city in Croatia, located on Kvarner Bay). Everything seemed to be going fine when suddenly the door flew open from the cockpit ejecting Frano Selak and forcing him out of the plane. While 19 passengers were killed in the plane crash Frano miraculously survived and landed in a soft haystack suffering only minor injuries.
Bus Accident
Then in 1966 Frano Selak decided to travel by bus, but when all was well, the bus skidded into a river drowning four passengers. Frano swam back to safety with only a few cuts and some bruises.
Car Accidents
As if that wasn’t enough already, in 1970 Frano Selak’s car suddenly caught fire when he was driving to his destination. Mere moments before the fuel tank exploded Frano, who had vacated the car immediately, stood far away watching his car burn as he survived completely unharmed.
Three years after his car exploded Frano Selak, who had already purchased another car, decided to drive, only to be saved by luck… again. This time his car’s faulty fuel pump sprayed gas all over the steaming hot engine, causing flames to bombard through the air vents. This time he lost most of his hair to the flames, but the rest of him was completely unharmed.
Road Accidents
For approximately 20 years, Frano Selak managed not to attract any more near death experiences, but then one fine day in 1995, when he was crossing a street in Zagreb, an out-of-control city bus hit him sending him flying onto the concrete. As people quickly gathered to help him Frano got up and walked off with only minor injuries.
Then in 1996 he cheated death once again when a UN truck sped straight to him as he was driving his Skoda around a corner in the mountains. To escape the speeding truck he drove off the cliff and managed to free himself from the car. He quickly clung to a tree while his car plummeted 300ft below and exploded.
Turn of Events – The Million Dollar Man
Frano Selak has experienced it all, from train crashes to explosions, and according to lady luck, it was time for him to taste the sweet nectar of his patience. In 2003, two days after his 73rd birthday, Frano Selak won approximately $1 million and decided to spend it with his fifth wife Katarina. Together they bought a luxury home on a private island, a modest home in Petrinja and a boat (that thankfully never exploded!).
Frano Selak – The World’s Luckiest or Unluckiest Man
In 2010, Frano Selak decided to give away most of his fortune (money and assets) to his relatives and friends after deciding to live an economical lifestyle with his beloved wife Katarina. He kept some money to afford a hip replacement surgery for himself and build a shrine to the Virgin Mary to thank her for his luck.
