Prison officer, 23, ‘lucky to be alive’ after having his throat cut by inmate at HMP Nottingham
The guard, 23, was rushed to hospital after after the attack at HMP Nottingham at 11am this morning
A ROOKIE prison officer is "lucky to be alive" after an inmate slashed his throat during a cell inspection today.
The guard, 23, was rushed to hospital after after the attack at HMP Nottingham at 11am this morning.
He was told the attacker had come just millimetres from severing a major artery in his neck.
Mark Fairhurst, chair of a prison staff trade union, said the officer was "lucky to be alive".
He said: "Hospital staff said he was lucky to be alive because it came very close to a main artery.
"This officer is now recovering at home. We offer him full support.
ATTACK NEARLY SLICED MAJOR ARTERY
"I must praise the management at the prison for the support and the stance they have taken.
"He is a new officer, still on probation, still within the first 12 months of service. It's quite concerning really."
A 25-year-old inmate has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.
A Nottinghamshire Police spokesman said: "We were called to HMP Nottingham at 11.15am today following reports that a member of staff had been assaulted by a prisoner.
"A 23-year-old man was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
"A 25-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of inflicting grievous bodily harm and remains in police custody."
A Ministry of Justice spokesman has since confirmed the prison officer has been discharged.
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HMP Nottingham was put into special measures in 2018 after a report warned the Government the jail was in a "dangerous state".
In 2014 a guard at the Category B male prison had his ear bitten off by an inmate on a drug come-down.
A source said at the time: "It was a senior officer, and he had his ear bitten off by a foreign national from Africa. His earlobe and that area. I’m not sure what the prisoner is in for.
"The officer went into his cell and he just attacked him, grabbed him and bit his ear off."
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