A local teen is being hailed a hero for her life-saving actions at a bowling alley.

Sixteen year-old Bethanie Riley is a junior at Northridge High School. She goes to the Elkhart Area Career Center for a few hours everyday. One of the program requirements was to be certified in CPR and first-aid. She never thought she's be forced to take action two months later.

It's always nice to learn some tricks from teammates who are a little bit more experienced but,14 year-old Victoria McCourt learned another unexpected lesson from Bethanie Riley at the bowling alley.

Victoria says, “She just knew what to do. She was there and just took her. She did a good job.”

Bethanie helped save Victoria's mom's life at a recent practice.

Lori says, “ I was watching them bowl. They were on their third game and that's all I remember and the next thing I know I had someone in an ambulance asking me if I knew where I was.”

Lori McCourt has heart arrhythmia and has passed out several times before. Bethanie happened to look up when she saw Lori's son panicked hovered over his mom.

Bethanie says, “I kind of tapped her on the shoulder and asked if she was okay and I asked twice and no response, so I lifted up her head and it was kind of turned blue and she was really red and hot, so I lifted her head back and opened up her airway.”

A week later, Lori is still bragging to everyone about how Bethanie saved her life and how knowledgeable she is about first-aid and CPR.

Lori says, “From what Bethanie told me, I was actually skipping beats when she was taking my pulse.”

Bethanie says, “I didn't actually do CPR. I was about three seconds away from it. I felt her pulse gone for about seven seconds and you don't want to rush the CPR right away.”

Lori says, “I always wanted to be a nurse, so it's kind of cool. I look at Bethanie and I'm like, oh she's doing what I always wanted to do.”

Lori was thrilled to hear daughter, Victoria also wants to be a nurse. She's looking forward to the day Victoria starts the same program at the Elkhart Area Career Center.