It was a routine summer morning in Jacksonville, Florida—sunlight falling on quiet streets, the hum of daily life undisturbed.
No one expected anything extraordinary. Yet, on that unremarkable day in 1967, ordinary work turned into a harrowing test of courage, captured forever in a single, unforgettable image.
A lineman hung unconscious from a utility pole, suspended above the street, his body limp after touching a 4,000-volt power line. Danger crackled around him,
but another man, a coworker, climbed the pole without hesitation, administering mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. High above the asphalt, amidst lethal electricity, he fought to save a life. This moment, frozen by Rocco Morabito’s camera, would become one of photojournalism’s most iconic images: The Kiss of Life.
Morabito, a photographer for the Jacksonville Journal, happened upon the scene while driving past a familiar street. What seemed like a normal assignment quickly turned into a life-or-death spectacle. The urgency, fear, and human determination unfolded in front of him, and his instincts as a photojournalist compelled him to capture it.
The men involved were J.D. Champion, who had suffered the electrocution, and Randall G. Thompson, his coworker. Thompson’s response was instinctive and fearless. Administering CPR while balancing on a pole, inches from high-voltage wires, he demonstrated skill, courage, and composure that few could imagine. His quick thinking revived Champion, who regained consciousness and eventually recovered fully.
When Morabito returned to the newsroom, the photograph spoke louder than words ever could. Editors immediately recognized its power. Published nationally and internationally, it immortalized both the peril and the heroism of that split-second moment.
In 1968, Morabito was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Photography, honoring the emotional depth and immediacy of his work.
Beyond the accolades, the image carries enduring lessons. It exemplifies the extraordinary acts ordinary people perform when courage meets responsibility. Both Champion and Thompson went on with their lives, humble in the face of widespread admiration.
Their heroism was quiet, practical, and instinctive—a testament to what humans can achieve when training, presence of mind, and compassion converge under pressure.
Decades later, The Kiss of Life continues to resonate. It is studied in journalism schools, emergency-response programs, and workplace safety courses, reminding each generation that bravery often emerges without warning, in ordinary moments, from ordinary people.
Conclusion
The Kiss of Life is more than a photograph—it is a story of courage captured in a single frame, a celebration of instinct and selflessness under life-threatening circumstances. It endures as a symbol of human connection, decisive action, and the quiet heroism that can appear when it matters most.