Train, plane, fire, cliff… He escaped all of them, won millions.

Croatian music teacher Frane Selak gained worldwide fame by recounting how he has come face‑to‑face with death countless times over his life. Selak says he survived a range of catastrophes—from a train crash to a plane incident, from vehicle fires to an accident that ended on a cliff—and later, years later, he entered a lottery and won a grand prize of about 1 million dollars, which also brought him back into the spotlight.

According to his own account, Selak escaped death in seven separate incidents and, after his experiences, began to be called the "luckiest man in the world." However, it is noted that none of the accidents he describes have been corroborated by independent official records, and details of some events vary across sources.

He Recounted His First Accident During a Train Journey

The first major accident he described occurred in 1962. While traveling on a train from Sarajevo to Dubrovnik, he said the train derailed and plunged into a freezing river.

Selak said he managed to exit the carriage and reach the shore, and that he received treatment for hypothermia and various injuries after the incident.

He Claimed He Fell onto a Haystack from a Plane

One of Selak's most extraordinary accounts dates back to 1963. According to the claim, one of the aircraft's doors opened during flight and Selak was hurled into the air.

Selak claimed that the plane crashed later, and that he survived by falling onto a haystack. However, the absence of independent official records on the incident has kept the story in debate for years.

Bus Accidents and Vehicle Fires

Selak later said that a bus he had ridden was dragged into a river and that he survived that crash. He also recounted experiencing two separate car fires.

According to the claim, the first incident saw the car catch fire while he was driving. In the second, he managed to escape just before the vehicle exploded.

In 1995, Selak said he was involved in another accident in Zagreb, stating that a bus struck him but he emerged without serious injuries.

He Said He Was Rescued From Death on the Edge of the Abyss

One of the latest major crashes he recounted occurred about a year later. He said he was traveling on a mountain road by car when he swerved to avoid another vehicle and the car rolled over the abyss.

He said he managed to get out of the vehicle and then clung to a tree to stay alive.

Together with these incidents, the story of Selak having cheated death seven times attracted extensive coverage in the international press. However, it is noted that the accidents have not been fully corroborated by official records.

The Lottery History Turned Around Years Later

An extraordinary story of Selak also added a lottery win. In 2003, Selak, who played the lottery in Croatia, won a grand prize.

Although the amount he won varied according to sources, the roughly $1 million prize brought him back onto the world press's radar. Known for escaping misfortunes for years, Selak was once again in the spotlight for the huge fortune he amassed from a game of chance.

He gave up a significant portion of his wealth.

After winning the large jackpot, Selak reportedly spent on things like a house and a car, but in later years he is said to have dispersed a substantial portion of his wealth.

Preferring a simpler life, Selak gave up a large part of his material wealth.

Born in 1929 in Croatia, Frane Selak, who spent most of his life teaching music, died in 2016.

Although none of the tales that he escaped death repeatedly have been verified, the extraordinary life story that began with accidents and continued with a lottery jackpot made Selak known as the world's luckiest man for years.