A bloke was left with severe burns and melted fingertips after allegedly getting too close to a disc-shaped craft in one of Canada's most notorious UFO encounters.

The incident took place in the summer of 1967 when Stefan Michalak, a Polish immigrant living in Canada, visited Falcon Lake in Manitoba. Stefan, an amateur geologist, had previously explored the area in search of gold and quartz.

However, instead of finding precious minerals, Stefan was left both mentally and physically scarred by a reported encounter with a "glowing" UFO. His extraordinary tale was recounted on the It Gets Weird podcast by host Nile.

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Sighting

Nile detailed how Stefan was investigating the area when a flock of geese started honking nearby. Upon inspecting the commotion, he was suddenly faced with two "cigar-shaped objects" hovering above the ground, which shifted colour from reddish-orange to silver.

One of the objects began to descend, morphing into the circular disc shape typically associated with UFO sightings. Stefan reportedly sat and sketched the craft, with his drawings being published online years later.

One of the 'most convincing' UFO cases left a man looking like a human Connect Four board
Stefan reportedly sat and sketched the craft, with his drawings being published online years later 

Eventually, the geologist decided to approach the spaceship. As he got closer, he began to smell sulphur and exhaust fumes, the air grew warmer, and he heard the sound of whirring motors.

According to Nile, as Stefan neared the craft, he noticed an open door with a bright light at the side, from which muffled voices could be heard. "He couldn't make out any words, or anything, but he heard at least two beings communicating inside," he explained.

"At this point he called out, saying that if they needed any mechanical help, he's willing to help them."

The voices stopped and, donning welding goggles he had brought, Stefan is said to have peered inside the craft, observing flashing buttons and panels blinking – but not witnessing any living creatures, alien or otherwise.

But things began to take a turn for the worse when Stefan attempted to touch the UFO while wearing thick gloves. "As soon as he touches the craft, the fingertips just start to melt, so it's so hot that it literally melts the gloves he's wearing," suggested Nile.

One of the 'most convincing' UFO cases left a man looking like a human Connect Four board
Stefan is said to have peered inside the craft, observing flashing buttons and panels blinking
 

At the same time Stefan observed the spaceship starting to turn, with a panel of holes facing towards him. He continued: "He's hit by this blast of air, that pushes him backwards, and sets his shirt and hat on fire.

"He's stumbling backwards, getting pushed by this wave of air and gas, and trying to take this burning shirt and hat off."

Nile claimed the craft then lifted off and flew away, leaving Stefan disoriented and hurt, saying: "It really feels like this guy was too close to the tailpipe of a UFO and as it took off it just blasted him."

Injuries

Left on his own Stefan began to feel nauseous and, while vomiting, he stumbled through the forest to find help. He made it back to his motel and with the nearest hospital a fair distance away, Stefan coordinated with his missus to meet back in their hometown of Winnipeg, hopping on a two-hour bus ride to get there.

Stefan was a bit cagey about spilling the beans on what went down, with Nile suggesting: "Not really being sure what he went through, he told his family and the people in the hospital that he was hit by airplane exhaust."

Stefan was treated for some nasty burns that had him looking like a human Connect Four board, matching the pattern of the exhaust vents he claimed to have clocked on the UFO.

One of the 'most convincing' UFO cases left a man looking like a human Connect Four board
It really does look like Connect Four... 

For weeks on end he was plagued with symptoms that smack of radiation sickness, think relentless runs and chucking up. Tests by the Canadian National Atomic Research Centre showed he wasn't glowing with radioactivity but was showing signs similar to those zapped by radiation.

"They find out that the burns on his chest do come from gamma rays, which passed through his stomach and basically broke down what was in there," Nile said.

Aftermath

Once he'd bounced back in hospital, Stefan was able to track down and revisit the spot where he'd had his close encounter. The search turned up his charred shirt, a melted glove, and some tools he'd left in haste, along with a circle of scorched earth where the alleged UFO had touched down.

The soil samples and Stefan's recovered clothing were also found to be radioactive, adding to the intrigue.

The case sparked a media frenzy due to the compelling evidence and Stefan's severe injuries. Yet, Nile pointed out that Stefan never chased the limelight over the encounter, sticking to his story consistently until his passing in 1999.

One of the 'most convincing' UFO cases left a man looking like a human Connect Four board
Stefan Michalak, a Polish immigrant living in Canada, visited Falcon Lake in Manitoba 

"He never, as far as I can tell, says that there were aliens involved," Nile remarked. "Stefan's story never really changes, over time people try to add things on and tweak it a little bit. He also has to clear up multiple times that he never saw any beings inside the aircraft.

"The fact that he stuck to his story for so long never really changed it, and seemed decently credible is one of the more interesting aspects of this case."

Official sources have yet to confirm Stefan's sighting, but Nile highlighted the Canadian government's vague response keeps the enigma alive. "The official government reports effectively said, 'yeah he came across something; it is not a matter of national security so we are not going to investigate any further'," he said.

Stefan's son Stan Michalak has since penned a book about his father's alleged encounter titled 'When They Appeared: Falcon Lake 1967: The Inside Story of a Close Encounter'.