sda7
139937
4681
79
The Kiss of Life
This photo shows two power linemen, Randall Champion and J. D. Thompson, at the top of a utility pole. They had been performing routine maintenance when Champion brushed one of the high voltage lines at the very top. Over 4000 volts entered Champion’s body and instantly stopped his heart (an electric chair uses about 2000 volts). His safety harness prevented a fall, and Thompson, who had been ascending below him, quickly reached him and performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. He was unable to perform CPR given the circumstances, but continued breathing into Champion’s lungs until he felt a slight pulse, then unbuckled his harness and descended with him on his shoulder.
Thompson and another worker administered CPR on the ground, and Champion was moderately revived by the time paramedics arrived, eventually making a full recovery.
bhfhf127001
Brings tears to my eyes.
wereSOlittle
Who took this photo?
boblawblawz
For a second there I though they were doing the spiderman kiss
GlazedHamRiot
Yeha but did he say no homo
AdamMcG
You may think this picture is rather tame, but I personally think it's shocking.
BigBlackBallz
This comment is so underrated...
Senorpelota
Haha, look at them, totally gay!
iknohuh
@ineedashotofwhiskey
ItsActuallyDavidNow
And that kids, is how I met your father.
scottbTerror
Wow. I think everyone should learn CPR.
MrNlceGuy
That’s gay
nsaspyingonuranus
Brother.
mxtzopktz
Couch electrician to dead guy: “it was the amps that killed you not the voltage” Dead guy: “thanks asshole now i feel better”
pikask
RhysPanda
“Two power linemen get freaky on the job”
biggieshortiebutwhiteandold
gay
ValiantToast
As someone who works in the utility field it’s insane to me that they were climbing a pole with hot lines in the first place.
jackjoneslab
That’s what we do.
laserite
What? Linemen work stuff hot constantly.
that1guyoverthere
Awkward silence in the bucket truck then after.
JollyRogarrgh
Thanks J.D....was uh...was it necessary to use so much tongue?
superfeathers
I bet that they love that this photo will never go away.
OkOkTryNotToSayTheWrongThing
fixedpressman
amazing photo, will live on through history
somegoyman
The only man who can save a lineman, is another lineman.
Catraylynn
Absolutely. We just had a lineman who was brought back by his buddy and the AED they keep on the truck. Minimal injuries, considering.
Lazureth
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/124666307/randall-g_-champion
guti41
Really, no offense to the art/profession of photography, but it seems like luckily being in the right place at the right time is critical.
YutteHermsgervordenbrotborda
A lot of famous photos like this weren't taken by photographers- just people who happened to have a camera at that point in time
guti41
Wonder if/when the technology on stills from video will improve.
Depositron
Randall Champion is the best fucking name of all time.
glaug
What about Staff Sergeant Max Fightmaster? (Electronics technician)
Depositron
Being a Fightmaster is cool until you have to fight a Champion.
TuurDeCabooter
There is an Australian cyclist called Steele Von Hoff
Champ19
My last name is also Champion!
Depositron
psillysimon
craftycommando
made me raff out roud
InTheDistanceAPlaintiveEnglishHorn
"Dying! Kiss me JD! Because I'm dying! No homo"
littlehorse000
He looks a bit like Ryan Reynolds.
SideEffectsOfJuice
Ryan Gaynolds... Gayan Reynolds?
SomebodyCallKennyLoggins
Fun fact: The Precordial Thump was invented for situations like this where there's no hard surface for chest compressions. Basically 1/2
marsnominee
This needs more upvotes
SomebodyCallKennyLoggins
You would just straight up punch the person in their chest in an attempt to restart their heart. Not very effective but better than nothing.
Catraylynn
It’s not recommended anymore- I’ve done it once- nothing happened, but it was one of those Hail Mary moves
talianagisan
So that's what it was called. I always knew when they did it in EMERGENCY! it was a thing but I wasn't sure of the name.
craftycommando
I hope that this is the only emergency situation where "better than nothing" should be acceptable.
MyTrueIdiotSelf990
CPR is already "better than nothing" in most cases.
Beezlebubble
Basically all you can do. Similar to CPR for infants. The finger press on the chest. Too much can kill them, too little does nothing but you
Beezlebubble
HAVE to do something in the mean time to try. What I learned As security for first responder training is, until pros show up, they're almost
buddbilly
Photo is titled “The Kiss of Life.”
bennyjay
thanks. upvote for #1 comment not being gay seal
icouldnthelpbutsignup
I'm sorry.. but who is the prick who downvoted this? My goodness.
HeroThatWasNeeded
Sounds gay
nclu
This story makes me teary-eyed no matter how many times it goes up.
weilong
NightPainPoe
I couldnt stop laughing at this
YaKnowInMyDefenseYourPoisonsAllLookAlike
Perfection.
toosleepytocomeupwithabettername
That tongue needs to be an upvote
ThisPleasesZulthar
.
inkthink
.
Manzoman666
.
Donku83
Totally thought this was gonna be about two gay workers bravely showing affection in a time when it was shunned. This is cool too tho
Gayforbae
Yeah. Still hot tho
Manzoman666
Crispy even.
Gayforbae
DarkSock
This was actually dramatized in a documentary; Google ‘BrokePole Mountin’ on PornHub. At least I think that’s what that documentary was…
concorde77
Rule 34 you cruel, heartless bitch
DogNostrilSpecialist
Thank you
yourlocaleconomicsnerd
The MEME, hand it over.
Irishman1227
Your toes, hand em over.
yourlocaleconomicsnerd
* rips out my toes one by one with my teeth*
BigIrv5151
If you've ever gaffed a telephone pole, you'll know that taking a man down over your shoulder is an astonishing feat.
ordazmic
I gaff and I can confirm that my fat ass gets tired with just my own weight
Bow2LeperMessiah
Coming down is a lot easier than going up tho
PulpyOJ
It’s mandatory training for lineman and have to re-certify every year; at least with my company.
TheDustyOne
Always good to practice hurt man rescues.
1mustpoopoo1mustpeepee
Lock your knee, shift your weight, 3 point contact... tough doing it alone, can’t imagine carrying someone indeed
dovebair
My hands are sweating thinking about it. I'm thankful for the people who can not only do this, but do it well.
TheOneBornOfOz
I have to do it for work and I really dont enjoy it much less adding the weight of another person and that shot of adrenaline that hits you
frowardd
idgaf
frowardd
i dont gaf
HorriblyPositive
I gaf
Bow2LeperMessiah
That’s a great joke
frowardd
thank you, sometimes i suspect i may have accidentally fathered offspring
Ifekinlovesauerkraut
Used to be part of my job 35 years ago. Going up with tools and telephone cables was hard enough.
wpurple
We practiced it every year with a 150lb dummy, but I was never confident that I could actually save anybody.
TheKoolEagle
I can only imagine he was running on pure adrenaline, because I have a hard enough time imagining doing that without an extra body on me.
OtterlyMagnificent
Adrenaline is a hell of a drug. It helps soccer-moms lift SUVs, and Underweight scarecrows lift boulders. Of course, you'll put yourself 1/
OtterlyMagnificent
in the hospital with muscle damage, but you did something on the very edge of human capability. 2/2
OutrageousHemmorhoid
I limped home from the gym once with with painful, stiff legs from “Leg Day”. Saw a guy getting beaten up by 3 men, with sticks.no one else-
OutrageousHemmorhoid
-was trying to help. I flew into a rage and adrenaline surged, & I threw the guys off him like they were children.Only realised 15mins later