Back in February of this year, DMX had an eye-opening experience that very well could have taken his life.

Months later, the rapper remains indebted to the police officers who saved his life after discovering him while he was unconscious in a parking lot.

This past Friday night (October 21), the Yonkers Police Department and Fire Department gathered for their annual Toughman Competition charity event. DMX was proudly in attendance, both to express his gratitude and to help raise money for the officers, whom he fondly refers to as "true heroes."

"On February 8, [they] saved my life," the legendary rapper addressed the room full of officers. "To go from, at one point running from the police to get away from s**t — you know, to get away from what I was doing — to having those same police save my life..."

At the time when DMX was discovered unconscious, he was without a pulse and wasn't breathing, with police responding by performing CPR on the scene and promptly having him rushed to a hospital. He pulled through, making a full recovery, and has been busy with touring and other engagements ever since.

The experience of being revived by police after nearly losing his life is one that DMX will never forget, and in an effort to say thank you, he has helped the charity event raise $80,000, while also lending his talents as a performer for those in attendance.

"I'm not speaking from what somebody else told me or someone else's opinion," DMX added. "This is my personal experience!" 

Take a look at the rapper praising the police and firefighters who saved his life in the clip below.