Transcript of A grade school lesson turned a student into a lifesaver

Finally, tonight, America is Strong, how a middle school lesson turned a student into a lifesaver.

Twelve-year-old Ethan Williams is still getting used to being called a hero.

Let's go to lunch. It was a type of thing where it was like a quick reaction, but it was also scary at the same time.

Ethan and his classmate, Bryce Henry, were eating lunch in their school's cafeteria near Philadelphia when Bryce started choking on a piece of apple.

I was just eating lunch, and then it suddenly flew down my throat. And then I started choking.

Bryce signaling he was choking, grabbing his throat with both hands, Ethan jumping right into action.

While I was choking, he grabbed my stomach and I didn't know what was happening. And then he did the Heimlic. He literally saved my life.

Go right behind him. One, two, three.

Both boys were prepared, learning the Heimlic maneuver in class last spring.

Come here. Let me see you, hero.

Maureen Carroll was their proud teacher.

For choking, did you go like this?

And I still knew how to do it, so I used it. And then I went, One, two, three.

Textbook. He listened, he learned, he recognized what was happening, and he acted so fearlessly. It validates all the hard work that we put into teaching. Way to go, Ethan.

There you go, Ethan. Ethan, sharing this advice for all of us.

You don't always have to save someone's life, but get to know people. Get to know the person because then when they need you the most, you can be there for them. Thank you.

He deserves all of that praise. Way to go, Ethan.

Hi, everyone. George Stephanopoulos here. Thanks for checking out the ABC News YouTube channel. If you'd like to get more videos, show highlights, and watch live event coverage, click on the right over here to subscribe to our channel. And don't forget to download the ABC News app for breaking news alerts. Thanks for watching.