Prison guard injured after serious assault at Woodford jail

A prison guard has been flown to hospital with serious injuries after being coward punched and kicked in the head by an inmate at a jail north of Brisbane.

A prison guard has been flown to a Brisbane hospital for treatment following a serious assault at Woodford Correctional Centre. Picture: Lachie Millard

A prison guard has been flown to hospital with serious injuries after being coward punched and kicked in the head by an inmate at a jail north of Brisbane.

The 45-year-old officer from Woodford Correctional Centre was flown to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital this afternoon after suffering serious facial injuries from the assault.

An officer told The Courier-Mail the prisoner had requested to go into a single cell and the prison guard had been trying to assist him but later “broke news to him that it couldn’t happen”.

The officer was later doing a muster when he was coward punched a “couple of times” by the prisoner.

The first hit was believed to be from behind the officer, knocking him to the ground and then he suffered kicks to the head.

Queensland Corrective Services have revealed the prisoner involved is serving a sentence for assault causing grievous bodily harm.

Secure units at the prison have been placed in lockdown and the Corrective Services Investigation Unit has been advised.

Staff members at the prison have been offered counselling following the horrific event.

“Our thoughts are with the injured officer and his family at this time, and all support is being provided to them,” a Queensland Corrective Services media spokeswoman said.

“This is now the subject of a police investigation and it would be inappropriate to comment further.”