Tabor™

Randall Champion inadvertently made contact with a low-voltage power line, causing an electric shock that stopped his heart. J.D. Thompson, a fellow lineman, promptly administered mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until medical professionals arrived. Champion managed to survive this ordeal, and the iconic photograph capturing the moment became widely known as "The Kiss of Life" (1967). During a routine maintenance task, Champion inadvertently brushed against one of the low-voltage power lines situated atop a utility pole. Fortunately, his safety harness prevented him from falling, and Thompson, who was climbing just below him, swiftly reached Champion and performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Given the circumstances, Thompson couldn't perform CPR, but he continued to breathe into Champion's lungs until he detected a faint pulse. He then released Champion's harness and carefully descended with him on his shoulder. On the ground, Thompson and another worker administered CPR, resulting in Champion being moderately revived by the time paramedics arrived. Eventually, Champion made a full recovery. What's even more remarkable is that Champion not only survived this incident, thanks to Thompson's actions, but he also lived for an additional 35 years. He passed away in 2002 at the age of 64. Thompson, on the other hand, is still alive today. Rocco Morabito was driving on West 26th Street in July 1967 on another assignment when he witnessed Champion hanging from the pole. He immediately called for an ambulance and grabbed his camera. "I passed these men working and went on to my assignment," says Morabito. "I took eight pictures at the strike. I thought I'd go back and see if I could find another picture." However, upon returning to the linemen, Morabito recounts, "I heard screaming. I looked up and I saw this man hanging down. Oh my God. I didn't know what to do. I quickly took a picture. J.D. Thompson was running toward the pole. I went to my car and called an ambulance. I got back to the pole, and J.D. was breathing into Champion. I backed off, way off until I hit a house and I couldn't go any farther. I took another picture. Then I heard Thompson shouting down: 'He's breathing!'"