WATCH: Texas prisoners save jail guard from heart attack

When facing a threatening life-and-death situation, sometimes help comes from the people you least expect.

Eight inmates of the Parker County jail in Weatherford, Texas, broke away from their holding cell to help save the life of a guard suffering from a suspected heart attack.

As seen in a CCTV footage, the prisoners immediately rushed toward the fallen guard’s aide, despite having their wrists locked in handcuffs.

One of the men attempted to radio for help when they realized he was not breathing, while the others shouted and banged on doors to try and get the attention of officers upstairs.

“He just fell over. Looked like an act,” one of the rescuers, Nick Kelton, said, according to a Telegraph report.  “[He] could have died right there. We were worried they [were] going to come with guns drawn on us.”

The good samaritan added,  “I watched him die twice. It never crossed my mind not to help whether he’s got a gun or a badge. If he falls down, I’m gonna help him. He’s a good man.”

Another inmate, Floyd Smith, said they feared the police, who might think they were trying to cause a ruckus and escape.

“They thought it was a fight. They thought we were taking over,” he said.

Captain Mark Arnett of the Parker County Sheriff’s Office, meanwhile, praised the inmates’ heroism, which saved the prison guard’s life.

“They grabbed his radio and tried to radio for help,” Arnett narrated in the report.“He was just talking to them, and he just kind of collapsed. As soon as the jailer went down, they started to yell.”

According to the report, the watchman had been joking with the inmates—who were locked in a small room in the basement of the District Courts Building—when he suddenly slumped over.

“All the inmates, they’re in handcuffs. We just stick them in there so they’re not wandering around and so they don’t grab somebody’s gun,” Arnett said. “They definitely saved his life. There’s no doubt about it.”

After being alerted, deputies performed CPR and used a defibrillator to shock his heart.

The guard, who was not identified, regained a pulse after receiving medical aid from the deputies and additional care from paramedics.

As expected, the entire Parker County jail expressed gratitude for the inmates’ valiant efforts.  Khristian Ibarrola