"If it does save one life, then it was all worth it."

Providence Day senior Billy Cohen was just fifteen years old when he experienced a life-changing event, one that he would later use to help others.

It started at soccer practice, when he collapsed doing laps.

“Had a sudden cardiac arrest and so my heart stopped,” said Cohen.

CPR was performed on the then 15 year old, getting him to regain a pulse, and ultimately saving his life.  He would spend time in the hospital and undergo surgeries.

Cohen decided to turn the traumatic situation into something that would could save another life.

"It would have been easy for me to take the low road out and crawl into a corner and feel bad about myself, but, instead, I chose to put myself out there and make a difference in my community,” said Cohen.

Cohen’s mom, Elizabeth, said her son expressed wanting to make a difference after the event. "Billy said, you know, I want to teach people CPR. I mean that's what saved me,” said Cohen.

Many that see the young athlete are shocked to hear his story.

"They don't expect a student like me to be talking about CPR and dying on a track,” said Cohen.

“It’s kind of you know, meaningful, when somebody that has actually been on the other end of it, I think is the teacher,” said Elizabeth Cohen.

Cohen has taught CPR to a couple thousand students at his school and reached thousands more through his  "Could You Save Me," campaign video , challenging people to learn CPR.

“This is what I was supposed to do because I was fortunate enough to be brought back,” said Cohen.

Another focus of Cohen’s was more AEDs on campus.

"At the time of my event, I think they had around six or seven AEDs and now we have upwards of about eleven,” said Cohen.

His mom is proud to see him turn something so traumatic into such a positive impact. “He has definitely made the most out of a horrible situation,” said Elizabeth Cohen.

Thousands in the community now know CPR thanks to Cohen’s work and those thousands have the ability right at their hands to save a life. It’s something that makes Cohen feel proud knowing another life could possibly be saved because of CPR training.

"If it happens, it happens, they are in the right place and know what to do,” said Cohen.

Cohen’s fellow students and his mom see this “hero” and his impact everyday, whether it is at his school or out in the community, with his mom saying, “he'll always be my hero. I mean I can't wait to see what he does with his life."

Cohen belives the event happened for a reason and he is happy to teach others the same technique that saved his life. "I would be extremely honored to save somebody's life because somebody did save mine."