The Iconic “Kiss of Life”: How One Photograph Saved a Life — and Won a Pulitzer Prize
In July 1967, a moment of tragedy turned into one of the most powerful photographs ever captured — a photo that would not only save a man’s life but also make history.
Rocco Morabito, a staff photographer for the Jacksonville Journal, was driving near West 26th Street in Florida when fate intervened. What began as an ordinary day suddenly became the story of his career — and an unforgettable image of human courage and compassion.
Two electrical linemen, Randall Champion and J.D. Thompson, were performing routine maintenance on power lines when disaster struck. Champion accidentally brushed against a high-voltage wire carrying more than 4,000 volts, enough electricity to stop his heart instantly.
His body went limp, suspended only by his safety harness. Below him, his co-worker Thompson realized what had happened — and acted without hesitation.
Climbing up to his unconscious colleague, Thompson began mouth-to-mouth resuscitation while both men were still high above the ground on the utility pole. It was a desperate attempt to bring Champion back to life before rescue teams could arrive.
At that exact moment, Rocco Morabito noticed the commotion from the street below. Grabbing his camera, he pointed his lens upward — and captured the instant Thompson breathed life back into his fallen partner.
The photograph, later titled “The Kiss of Life,” became an instant symbol of heroism, brotherhood, and the fragility of life.
Shortly after, emergency responders arrived. Champion regained consciousness and survived the incident — thanks to Thompson’s quick thinking and the life-saving CPR performed on that pole.
When Morabito’s photograph was published, it moved millions around the world. Newspapers from the United States to Europe printed the image, and in 1968, it earned Morabito the Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Photography — one of the highest honors in journalism.
His editor at the Jacksonville Journal called it “the photograph of a lifetime.” For many, it was more than just a picture — it was a reminder of human resilience, compassion, and the power of one person to save another.
Decades later, “The Kiss of Life” remains one of the most emotional and iconic images in photojournalism. It continues to inspire emergency workers, photographers, and ordinary people everywhere — a timeless story of courage captured in a single, unforgettable frame.
