Incredible footage shows a group of prisoners break out of their cell - in order to help a guard who was having a heart attack.
Gary Grimm said he would not have survived if the group had not escaped and called for assistance.
He was guarding the inmates at a Texas courthouse when he suddenly slumped in his seat and inmates realised he was unconscious.
Security footage of the rescue went viral, and Mr Grimm has voiced his gratitude to the men who put their differences aside in order to help.
The 52-year-old told WFAA : "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."
Security camera footage shows the prisoners escaping in order to help guard Gary Grimm 
Gary Grimm said he was grateful that the inmates hadn't left him to die 
When the prisoners got out, they found Mr Grimm had no pulse.
The fortunate guard added: "I get emotional. If they wished harm for me, all they had to do was sit there and do nothing."
The prisoners got out of their cell in order to help 
Gary Grimm worked as a guard for 20 years before he was medically retired 
The prisoners noticed Mr Grimm slumped in his seat and realised something was seriously wrong
Since the emergency at the Parker County District Courthouse, Mr Grimm - who worked in Texas prisons and courts for 20 years - has been medically retired, and is set to have surgery.
His friends set up a GoFundMe appeal to help Mr Grim's family with the expenses associated with his treatment.

Good news stories like this happen to us all each day - but don't hit the headlines

We’ve teamed up with Cancer Research UK to raise funds for its fight against the disease and to share and celebrate good news stories happening right now for patients and survivors across the country.
Good news might be receiving positive test results or the moment your hair grows back for the first time after chemo.
Thanks to the charity – which receives no government funding for its research – UK cancer survival has doubled in the last 40 years.
But there is so much that still needs to be done for Cancer Research UK to bring more good news to more people every day.
To donate and help more people survive or for more info visit cruk.org
ADVERTISER CONTENT FROM CANCER RESEARCH UK
The appeal, set up by friend Wade Prew, described the guard as having "the biggest heart of most folks you know".
It said Mr Grimm has opened his home to numerous foster children and branded him "just true salt of the earth".