Stories about prisoners who saved people from death

When thinking about prison and people serving sentences, the last thing that comes to mind is heroism. It seems as if nothing is human about the prisoners. Otherwise, they would not be in their place. However, not everyone sentenced to a real term is a notorious villain.

Some committed the crime out of stupidity, others out of extreme need, and others did not realize what they were doing. Anyway, all places of detention are called correctional institutions. It is understood that people who have made a mistake can still return to everyday life, and today, we will recall several events that confirm this.

5 stories about prisoners who saved people from death

1. Saving a guard during a riot

In 2012, a riot broke out on the territory of the Lee Correctional Facility. South Carolina’s central prison plunged into chaos after a group of about 120 prisoners attacked officers, taking one of them hostage. Aggressive men armed with homemade sharpeners inflicted several wounds on the guard and locked him in a closet.

The situation seemed hopeless. In a few hours, an officer will bleed to death or become a victim of uncontrolled violence. Help came from an unexpected direction. While some prisoners were settling scores with their abusers and vandalizing the prison, trying to make their way to the inner exercise yard, others decided to contact the outside world using contraband phones.

The local sheriff, who took the call from an unknown number, did not hear any demands. The voice on the other end told him where the wounded officer was and how to get there as quickly as possible. The commander of the special operations group reacted to the information with disbelief but led his men along the indicated route. The guard was on the spot and was evacuated. The name of the prisoner who called was not disclosed for his safety.

2. Heimlich’s trick

This story happened in Nashville, Tennessee, less than a year ago. The female officer was making a routine gym tour while on duty. Suddenly, she began to choke, probably choking on her gum. The prisoners heard the characteristic wheezing and rushed to the matron. A helpless woman would not have been able to put up any resistance. However, the prisoners did not intend to attack. Instead, one of the men in a prison uniform grabbed the officer and provided first aid, giving him a Heimlich maneuver.

The woman was able to breathe again but lost consciousness. Then, another prisoner grabbed a walkie-talkie and immediately called a medical team. Visit. A F R I N I K . C O M . For the full article. According to the institution’s chief physician, he was surprised by the unfamiliar voice. Later, the prison staff petitioned the court to commute the punishment for prisoners who kept a human face despite all the circumstances.

3. Assisting victims of an accident

A prison bus making a regular flight to Phoenix crashed at high speed into a cargo trailer left on the side of the road. Fifty prisoners, three guards, and a driver were in the cabin. As a result of the collision, the bus overturned, and many people were seriously injured, including all the officers. The resulting chaos could easily be used to escape. Nevertheless, the prisoners who had already been sentenced stayed and quickly organized themselves.

Some pulled out the injured, who could not move on their own. Others were installing emergency signs and trying to regulate traffic on the expressway. No one left the scene of the accident until the ambulance crews arrived. This act shocked both the guards and bystanders. At a public press conference, the head of the Arizona Department of Corrections called this group of prisoners an example that rehabilitation is possible and everyone has the right to redemption.

4. Escape from suicide

The Ramsey County Jail in Minnesota is unremarkable. This ordinary, relatively small correctional facility has not been featured in any scandals. However, one day, a man in an orange robe appeared on the cornice of the second floor of the main building. He was going to take his own life. While the prisoners in the exercise yard shouted to dissuade the unfortunate man from an irreparable act, three others imperceptibly rolled up a cart with laundry.

They tried to stay out of sight of a potential suicide. At some point, the man jumped off the roof and deliberately intended to land flat to minimize his chances of survival. The cellmates timed the moment and managed to roll out the cart. As a result, the suicide escaped with minor injuries and did not try to repeat his plan. He is now free and living an everyday life. Sheriff Bob Fletcher called the prisoners’ act an act of heroism. They weren’t obligated to act, but they showed empathy and humanity.

5. Saving airplane passengers

In 1957, an emergency occurred on board a Northwest Airlines aircraft. The captain reported the problem a few minutes after takeoff and decided to make an emergency landing. It was impossible to return to the airport, so the crew sent the plane to Rikers Island. It is the largest prison in the world, which costs almost a billion dollars a year to maintain. It sounds like a plot for an action-packed blockbuster. The landing was not soft; the plane was severely damaged, and a fire started.

Together with a fire brigade, the prison governor sent a group of 69 prisoners to the scene of the accident, who began evacuating the victims. First, the passengers were dragged to a safe distance and then taken to the prison infirmary. The prisoners made tea and brought more blankets to warm the shocked people. Eighty-one passengers were rescued. The mayor of New York City expressed gratitude to the prison governor and the prisoners who participated in the operation. Eleven of them were released, while the rest received reduced sentences.