Prisoners break out of cell to save guard’s life after he has a heart attack

Ross McGuinness

A security guard has thanked a group of prisoners who broke out of their holding cell to help him when he suffered a heart attack.

Gary Grimm was watching the inmates at a courthouse in Texas when he slumped in his chair and passed out.

It wasn’t until the 52-year-old viewed the security footage that he realised that a group of prisoners had broken out of their cell to rush to his aid.

The footage shows the men, wearing striped jumpsuits and with their hands cuffed, burst out of their cell to help Mr Grimm.

He said he would not have survived had the prisoners not sprang into action.

The security footage of the incident, which happened in June 2016, went viral.

Mr Grimm was guarding at least eight men in a holding cell below the courtroom at the Parker County District Courthouse when he had a heart attack.

MOST POPULAR TODAY ON YAHOO

When the men rushed to Mr Grimm, they found he had no pulse. But after they raised the alarm, the guard was rushed to hospital.

He told WFAA News: “Instead of overtaking me and taking my gun, and killing me or taking a hostage and escaping, they looked at me as a human being.

“I get emotional. If they wished harm for me, all they had to do was sit there and do nothing.

“I don’t care if they’re a drug user, hot check writer, or child molester. They’re still a human being.

“I don’t have to like what they did, but it’s not my position to be the judge and jury.

“I just slumped and went out. Next thing I remember is looking up at the ceiling in the ER.”

After working in Texas courts and prisons for 20 years, Mr Grimm has taken medical retirement and will undergo surgery this month.

A friend has set up a GoFundMe appeal to help pay for his treatment.