Pulitzer Prize photograph, "Kiss of Life"

[Major Nikon]

2. Years ago I used to maintain and install equipment on communication towers

It was a union job and the first thing we had to do before we could climb was pass a climbing course which included learning how to rescue a disabled buddy from a tower. Everyone had to successfully rescue a classmate who was unable to assist in the rescue in order to pass the course. Our instructors had the smallest guy in the class (me) rescue the largest guy in the class to demonstrate it could be done. At the time I started, we were using leather waist belts like the ones depicted in the photo. One of my coworkers broke his back and was paralyzed after a fall of only a few feet before his lanyard caught him. Another coworker had to rescue him off the tower. Eventually we transitioned to full body harnesses that were a lot safer.