The Kiss of Life (1967)

The Kiss of Life (1967): A Moment That Defined Human Courage and Compassion

In the summer of 1967, on what seemed like an ordinary day in Jacksonville, Florida, a life-changing moment unfolded high above the ground. Two utility linemen were performing routine maintenance work on a power line — a task they had done countless times before. But in a split second, that day would become a timeless story of courage, quick thinking, and the extraordinary power of human compassion.

Randall G. Champion, a veteran lineman for the Florida Power & Light Company, was working on top of a utility pole when tragedy struck. While adjusting a high-voltage line, he accidentally came into contact with a live wire carrying 4,160 volts of electricity. The shock was immediate and powerful. His body went rigid, and within moments, his heart stopped beating. He was left hanging lifelessly upside down from his safety harness, suspended in the air, with no one but his co-worker nearby.

On a neighboring pole, another lineman, J.D. Thompson, noticed what had happened. Without hesitation, Thompson realized that every second counted. There was no time to wait for medical assistance or to climb down and call for help. The only thing that mattered was reaching his partner before it was too late. In that instant, instinct and courage took over.

Thompson climbed across the lines, risking his own life on the same electrical network that had just claimed his friend’s heartbeat. When he reached Champion, he quickly unhooked the equipment to ensure no more electricity was running through the line. Then, balanced precariously 26 feet above the ground, he began administering mouth-to-mouth resuscitation — something that had rarely, if ever, been attempted under such conditions.

For several tense minutes, Thompson continued to breathe life into Champion. He refused to give up, even as exhaustion set in and there was no clear sign of life. Below, co-workers and bystanders watched helplessly, praying for a miracle. And then, finally, Champion began to breathe faintly. His body twitched, and color slowly returned to his face. Against all odds, J.D. Thompson had brought his friend back from the brink of death.

By the time paramedics arrived, Randall Champion was alive — dazed, weak, but breathing. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors confirmed that he had indeed suffered cardiac arrest but had survived because of the immediate action taken by Thompson. Champion went on to live many more years after that day, carrying with him the memory of how his colleague had refused to let him go.

This extraordinary act of heroism might have gone unnoticed by the wider world, if not for one man who happened to be nearby. Rocco Morabito, a photographer for the Jacksonville Journal, was driving past the area when he noticed the commotion. He looked up and saw Thompson performing mouth-to-mouth on the suspended Champion. Realizing he was witnessing something incredible, Morabito grabbed his camera and snapped a picture that would become one of the most iconic photographs in history.

He titled it “The Kiss of Life.”

The image captured more than just a rescue — it symbolized hope, sacrifice, and the deep human instinct to help one another. Thompson’s face showed determination and focus, while Champion’s limp body illustrated the fragility of life itself. It was a moment frozen in time, a perfect balance between death and survival, fear and love.

Morabito’s photograph went on to win the 1968 Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Photography and has since been displayed in museums, textbooks, and fire and rescue training centers around the world. Decades later, “The Kiss of Life” continues to evoke emotion and admiration. It stands as a visual reminder that true heroism doesn’t always wear a uniform or happen on a battlefield — sometimes, it happens 26 feet in the air, when one man refuses to let another die.

Today, the story of Randall Champion and J.D. Thompson remains a timeless lesson in courage and humanity. It reminds us that in moments of crisis, what defines us is not fear, but the strength to act selflessly. The Kiss of Life is more than just a photograph; it is a symbol of hope — proof that compassion, even in the most dangerous circumstances, can bring someone back to life