Once upon a time, in the warm month of July, there was a photographer named Rocco Morabito. He was on his way to take pictures in Jacksonville, Florida. As he drove down West 26th Street, he saw two workers from the Jacksonville Electric Authority. They were busy fixing a power pole, and everything seemed normal.
But then, something very scary happened. One of the workers, named Randall G. Champion, accidentally touched a live electric wire. In a flash, he fell, and the electricity made him go limp. He was safe in his gear, but he was in big trouble.
J.D. Thompson, a friend of Randall, was working on another pole far away. When he heard the shouts for help, his heart raced. He ran over to help Randall, but he knew he couldn’t do regular CPR because Randall was hanging high in the air.
Thinking quickly, J.D. did something brave. He pressed his lips to Randall’s and blew air into his mouth, trying to give him life. He pushed on Randall’s chest, hoping to feel a heartbeat. After a few tries, he felt a small pulse. J.D. knew he had to act fast. He carefully took Randall off the pole, carrying him down with all his strength.
Once they were on the ground, J.D. and another worker did everything they could to help until the ambulance arrived. Slowly, Randall started to breathe again. He was still a bit lost, but he was alive.
Rocco Morabito, who had just come to take pictures, saw how serious the situation was. He used his car radio to call for help and captured the moment when J.D. saved Randall. The picture showed J.D. giving Randall the “kiss of life.” It touched so many hearts that it won a big prize called the Pulitzer Prize in 1968.
Thanks to J.D.’s bravery, Randall got a second chance. He lived happily for 35 more years before passing away peacefully in 2002. Rocco, the photographer, left us in 2009. But J.D. Thompson, the true hero of this story, was still alive and well.
This tale from Jacksonville reminds us that ordinary people can become heroes when they face tough challenges. The famous photo keeps their brave act alive, reminding us all of the power of courage and friendship.
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