A guard was freed Thursday night after being held hostage by inmates at a South Carolina maximum-security prison for almost five hours , authorities said . The incident occurred at Lee Correctional Institute in Bishopville , a prison where another guard was held hostage in June . Bishopville is about 55 miles west of the capital , Columbia . The incident started just before 5 p.m . ET in the prison 's Chesterville dormitory , said Clark Newsom , a public information officer for the South Carolina Department of Corrections . The guard , who was not identified , was rescued just before 10 p.m. by a large number of officers , Newsom said . He suffered cuts to his head and arm but was able to walk out of the prison after he was freed . The guard was then airlifted to a hospital , mainly as a precaution , Newsom said . The inmates involved surrendered and the incident is under investigation , CNN affiliate WLTX reported . In June , a different guard at the facility , which holds about 1,200 prisoners , was held hostage for several hours before being freed . Lee Correctional Institute is a Level 3 or maximum-security prison `` designed primarily to house violent offenders with longer sentences , and inmates who exhibit behavioral problems , '' according to the Corrections Department website . `` Oh yes , we are looking into security issues , we always do , '' Newsom said . `` This is a maximum-security facility where the toughest of the tough are kept . These kinds of things happen no matter what you do . '' In June : South Carolina prison guard rescued .
Guard power cuts , was able to walk out of the prison after his rescue , official says . ` ` We are looking into security issues , '' a corrections official said . The incident started just before 5 p.m . on Thursday at the Correctional Institution . In addition , a guard was held hostage for several hours at the same prison before being freed .