WEATHERFORD, Texas -- A corrections officer at a Texas jail survived a heart attack after inmates broke free from their cell to help him.



According to WFAA, eight prisoners were behind a locked door on June 23 in the holding cell of the District Courts Building in Parker County.



The officer suddenly slumped over after joking with the inmates.



“He just fell over," inmate Nick Kelton told the station. "Looked like an act. Could have died right there.”



When Kelton and the other inmates realized something was wrong, they started shouting for help. When help didn't come, they managed to bust out of their holding room -- realizing the risks.



The guard didn't have a pulse, so they started shouting and banging on doors -- so loudly that deputies upstairs thought there was a fight.



Deputies told WFAA they didn't know what to expect when they got downstairs.



“He had keys," Sgt. Ryan Speegle told the affiliate. "Had a gun. It could have been an extremely bad situation."



When deputies realized what was going on, they corralled the inmates and began CPR on the officer.



Capt. Mark Arnett says the prisoners likely saved the officer's life.



The officer has not been identified. He is expected to return to work next week.



“I watched him die twice,” Kelton told the ABC affiliate. “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.”



And by the way, the room that the inmates broke out of has been reinforced.



