COLUMBIA, S.C. — A guard held hostage at a South Carolina high security prison was rescued early today after a standoff of more than six hours, a corrections department spokesman said.

The officer was rescued and prison officials regained control of the building about 3:15 a.m. when negotiations with the inmates failed, said Clark Newsom, a spokesman for the Department of Corrections.

About 100 corrections officers and State Law Enforcement Division agents blew open a door and regained control of the building. The inmates did not resist, Newsom said.

The correctional officer had been dressed in an inmate’s uniform to disguise him but he was recognized and rescued, Newsom said.

During the standoff, the inmates never left the wing of the Lee Correctional Institution in Bishopville and there was no danger to the community, Newsom said.

“No attempt was made to actually get out,” Newsom said. “That probably would have been fruitless because there were so many officers on the grounds.”

The officer appeared to have a suffered a head injury that was not thought to be serious and was taken to a hospital for evaluation. His name has not been released.

No other injuries were immediately reported.